Art and Mental Health Unite:
Mooneyham Art, Old Bakery Beer Company and Centerstone Present
Alton Art Expo 2
Alton, IL – Creativity and mental health advocacy return in an inspiring collaboration between Mooneyham Art, Old Bakery Beer Company and Centerstone. Alton Art Expo is a groundbreaking exhibition and community gathering that highlights the healing power of artistic expression. The event will take place Saturday, Sept. 26, from 12-7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 12-5 p.m. at The Old Bakery Beer Company, providing an immersive experience where visitors can explore art’s role in mental health, awareness and recovery. The Alton Art Expo will feature curated collections of art from more than 40 artists.
​Art has long been a tool for self-expression, resilience and healing. This event creates a welcoming space for artists and art appreciators to engage in meaningful conversations about well-being, creativity and personal growth. Through a curated selection of artwork, interactive discussions and expert-led programming, attendees will gain insight into the intersection of art and mental health.
“Bringing together artists, mental health professionals and the local community allows us to foster dialogue and break stigmas surrounding mental health,” said Charles Mooneyham, owner at Mooneyham Art. “Art has the power to heal, and we are honored to create a space where people can connect, express and find support.”
Mooneyham and his cocurator Stephan Scordias developed the original concept of the Alton Art Expo. This year, Mooneyham Art is proud to announce the addition of Mindy Nickel as co-organizer and curator and a new location for the expo. Last year, the event was hosted at The Milton School House.
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This year, the event will take place at Old Bakery Beer Company, a staple amongst Alton’s rich and historic topography. Located downtown at 400 Landmark Blvd., the building is a repurposed microbrewery and event space, commandeered for a weekend to feature the Metro East’s vibrant hub of artists, entrepreneurs and wellness practitioners. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the art exhibitions, participate in workshops and hear from experts in the mental health field.
Additionally, Centerstone has agreed that all donations received will stay in the Alton community to benefit local citizens in need of behavioral health care. The artists will get to keep 100% of their sales, as Mooneyham Art firmly believes artists should never have to give away work for free and should always be paid for their work.
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The 2026 Alton Art Expo 2 event will feature a Graphic Art Contest. Last year’s inaugural Expo featured Tom Blood’s “Balloon Picker” painting, which became the face of the event and was published hundreds of times across press, radio and film, giving the artist extraordinary visibility. This year’s selected artist will receive similar widespread exposure, along with an additional opportunity: a complimentary vending booth at the 2026 Alton Art Expo 2.
The contest is open to the public, and anyone 18 years of age or older is eligible to enter. Artists may submit an unlimited number of entries with a fee of $10 per submission. Each entry must be a different work of art. All entries must be received by the deadline of March 31, 2026.
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Mooneyham Art encourages emerging and established artists alike to participate in this unique opportunity to contribute to a community‑driven event that celebrates creativity and mental health advocacy.
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Official JOT form link to apply for the graphic art contest. https://pci.jotform.com/form/260167884560060
Vendor Applications are now open and can be found above or on the official Facebook event invite or on MooneyhamArt.com under the Alton Art Expo tab. Vendor applications close June 1.
About the Partners:
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Mooneyham Art: is dedicated to promoting and supporting local artists through exhibitions, workshops, and community events. By fostering creative expression, Mooneyham Art provides a platform for artists to share their voices and connect with the community.
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Charles Mooneyham: As the founder of Mooneyham Art LLC, Charles journey into the art world was anything but traditional. After surviving an attempt to end his life in 2006. Charles Passion for behavioral health grew alongside his love for painting, ultimately leading him back to university studies in social work, autism studies and behavioral neuroscience at University of Missouri St. Louis and St. Joseph’s University. He later obtained a Register Behavior Technician license and worked in autism for almost 20 year. During the pandemic he left the field of autism and became a Clinical Care Specialist for the suicide hotline. His varied experiences helped shape his philosophy that art is more than just a craft, it’s a force for healing and transformation. Through his current gallery Charles continues to push boundaries, offering rural artists an opportunity to exhibit alongside world-class talent. Charles also conceptualized and founded the Alton Art Expo, an indi art fair designed to normalize conversations around behavioral health, promote artistic expression, fund raise for mental health initiatives and champion the healing benefits of art. (Bio written by Erin Camfield, director of advancement Centerstone)
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Stephen Scordias: After more than 20 years at a major university, Stephen left academia to fully return to the arts, embracing a passion that had been waiting for the right moment to flourish. Stephen currently serves as co-curator, co- organizer to Mooneyham Art and Alton Art Expo 1&2. He is also a resident artist at Mooneyham Art and has been featured in many regional galleries in the Midwest.
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Mindy Nickel: New to the team Mindy is a local artist to the riverbend and operates independently as Stay Weird Crochet, as a resident artist at Mooneyham Art and various galleries/fairs in the St. Louis Metro region. Additionally, Mindy was instrumental in helping facilitate OBB as the 2026 venue for Alton Art Expo 2.
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Old Bakery Beer: The Old Bakery Beer Company is a certified organic craft brewery and family friendly restaurant operating in downtown Alton, IL. OBB maintains a mission to offer delicious food and beverages in a safe and welcoming environment while fostering a commitment to social good and environmental sustainability. OBB works to accomplish their mission through several avenues including their monthly Drink for a Cause program, which gives back to different local charitable organizations each month, in-kind donations to numerous local fundraisers, free event programming, vendor opportunities for local artists, and more. The Alton Art Expo fits perfectly within the brewery's mission to give back to their local community in a meaningful way.
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Centerstone: is a not-for-profit health system providing mental health and substance use disorder treatments. With a network of outpatient clinics, residential programs and telehealth services across the nation, Centerstone delivers care that changes people’s lives. It also offers specialized programs for the military community, therapeutic foster care, children’s services and employee assistance programs. Centerstone’s Research Institute and Foundation work to advance mental health care through research, technology and philanthropy.
Join Us
Guests can enter the Alton Art Expo for free, with any monetary donation, pet food/supplies, canned good or any new item of essential need. Join us on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 12-7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 12-5 p.m. at Old Bakery Beer for a weekend of art, conversation and community support surrounding wellness. For more details, visit https://www.mooneyhamart.com/artexpo
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The 2026 Alton Art Expo 2 will be dedicated in loving memory of Tai Davis.