RiseUp for Art’s newest public art, the Able Table, will be completed and unveiled during a ceremony at West Hartord’s Blue Back Square on Thursday, Oct. 24.

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West Hartford’s Blue Back Square will host the unveiling of RiseUp for Arts’ newest public art piece, The Able Table, a picnic table designed with accessibility in mind, on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 4 p.m.

West Hartford Prevention Coordinator Gretchen Levitz highlighted that, as a recently designated Recovery Friendly Community, West Hartford is “figuratively and literally making room at the table for everyone.”

Artist Julie Bergeron first presented the concept for The Able Table to West Hartford students who attended the Youth Wellness Navigator Training for Teen Leaders.

The project was brought to life with funding from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Youth Recovery CT. The students brainstormed the artistic theme for the table, focusing on how prevention can spread positive change throughout the community. Once the design was finalized, the students collaborated with the artist in the studio to paint the table.

According to Levitz, the dandelions and seeds painted on the table are “a symbol of how small actions can spread positive change throughout the community.” The significance of the Cosmos flowers, she said, is that “these resilient flowers represent young people thriving, even in tough situations.”

The Able Table also includes blue sky and clouds. “The blue sky offers a sense of freedom and peace, suggesting that an approach to prevention and recovery that creates space for people to thrive,” Levitz said.

Inspired by the youth leaders, the mural on The Able Table is a hopeful reminder that small actions can lead to significant results. It emphasizes the power of prevention and its role in fostering a healthier, more resilient community.

Painting of The Able Table taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Courtesy of Gretchen Levitz

A ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony for The Able Table will occur at Webster Walk in Blue Back Square on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m.

For more information about RiseUp for Arts, please contact Matt Conway at [email protected].

For details about West Hartford’s Able Table and the Prevention Partnership, please contact Gretchen Levitz at [email protected] or 860-561-7571.

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