Local recognized in N.O.

New Orleans - Holly Wherry, daughter of Keith and Mary Wherry of Cresco, and Crestwood graduate was recently recognized by Gambit’s “40 Under 40 for 2018,” which identifies the top young professionals making a difference in New Orleans today.

Wherry is an art therapist, counselor, founder and executive director of Whole Village Art Therapy (www.wholevillageart.org).

She had a vision for helping people through art. So in August 2014, she combined five of her passions — art, art therapy, teaching, bicycling and travel — to spread the word about the benefits of art therapy with others.

She and her boyfriend, Bert Caswell, started their journey in Lime Springs and shared the benefits of art therapy along a 2,000-mile bike tour along the Mississippi. They ended up in Caswell’s birthplace, New Orleans.

“Art therapy works in a different way,” Wherry told the Gambit after being chosen for the ‘40 Under 40’ honor. “If they’re not able to access this information verbally, a lot of times, they can do it through art making and are able to move forward in their healing journey.”

Wherry worked as an art therapist in New Orleans for over eight years before she founded the non-profit Whole Village Art Therapy in 2016. The organization serves more than 15 other entities and three schools, as well as communities and individuals.