Lamar Whidbee, Get Well Soon
November 2024
Get Well Soon is the first major public artwork by the Raleigh-based artist and licensed mental health counselor, Lamar Whidbee.
A temporary, public art installation commissioned by the Dix Park Conservancy in coordination and partnership with the City of Raleigh and the Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, Get Well Soon is envisioned as a building façade adornment on the Spruill Building on the Dix Park Campus.
The piece captures the artist’s desire to acknowledge the history of Dix Hospital and mental health patients past and present, while encouraging greater compassion and fearlessness – often exhibited in the children around us, like Whidbee’s daughter – as we engage and improve mental healthcare today, much like Dorothea Dix did in her own time, generations ago.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Artist Statement
"Get Well Soon" is my first public artwork, and it holds a deep, personal meaning for me. As both an artist and a mental health therapist, I wanted to create something that speaks to the mental health conditions many of us face and the impact these conditions can have on our lives. This piece is attached to the Spruill Building to make it part of the community's space—just like mental health is part of all our lives.
The work features five distinct structures. One is an image of my daughter, Star, and the other four are flowers, each representing different individuals and groups who have been part of my mental health journey. At the center of each flower is a brain-like shape, symbolizing how much our well-being depends on our mental health. I wanted "Get Well Soon" to raise awareness and start conversations about mental health, while also challenging the way empathy has been developed and expressed throughout history.
Each flower has its own story:
The yellow and black flower is significant to me because it represents Perquimans County, the small rural place in northeast North Carolina where I was born and raised.
The black flower with a green and red amygdala is a tribute to those who were enslaved, both around the world and specifically on the grounds of Dorothea Dix Park.
The blue, brown, and white flower is for my son. It’s meant to bring attention to mental health issues among Black men, a topic that isn’t talked about enough.
The purple flower with orange amygdala(s) represents my wife, who grew up in foster care, separated from several of her siblings. Her journey has been a powerful reminder of how our mental health is sometimes shaped by our early experiences but confined to them.
The red flower in my daughter’s hand represents my mother who has worked in healthcare in the hospital setting for most of her adult life.
“I created this piece to give voice to these stories and to encourage people to think differently about mental health, not just as an individual issue, but as something that affects us all, shaping our histories and our futures.”
About Lamar Whidbee
Lamar Whidbee was born and raised in North Carolina, where his creative journey has taken on many forms. After receiving a football scholarship at Winston-Salem State University and transferring to North Carolina Central University, he found mentorship under Dr. Beverly McIver, igniting his passion for art. His academic pursuits led to an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a License in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Carolina State University.
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Today, Lamar Whidbee approaches the contemporary art scene, using his craft to spark conversations on mental health, parenting, profound insights into the human experience, and speaking to the experiences of underrepresented communities, transcending race, demographics, and gender. Whidbee’s art has been exhibited in prestigious venues such as the North Carolina Museum of Art and the Visual Art Exchange. And beyond his professional life, he is a husband of ten years and a father of two.
