JANUARY 22 TO BE DESIGNATED

“HI, HOW ARE YOU?” DAY IN AUSTIN

Awareness for city-wide, neighbor-to-neighbor mental well-being check-in highlighted by a night of music and art and featuring performances by, Moving Panoramas, Kathy McCarty, Cowboy Diplomacy, Jane Ellen Bryant and Will Courtney.

(AUSTIN, TEXAS – January 9, 2018) – “Hi, How Are You?” Foundation is pleased to present, in partnership with SIMS Foundation, City of Austin Music & Entertainment Division, and Mohawk, a night of music and art celebrating mental wellness on Monday, January 22 at Mohawk, located at 912 Red River St., Austin, Texas, 78701. The line-up includes Moving Panoramas (featuring Laurie Gallardo), Kathy McCarty, Cowboy Diplomacy, Jane Ellen Bryant, Will Courtney, Leslie Sisson with Josh T. Pierson and Jonathan Terrell, and special guests. The musicians will perform select songs written by Daniel Johnston, as well as their own original music. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. with a VIP art sale and cocktail hour with bites by Frank, and features works by artists Daniel Johnston, David Thornberry, Jason Archer, Miguel Rangel, and Matthew Rodriguez. Art will be for sale throughout the event and music starts at 8:00 p.m.

“Hi, How Are You?” Day is the brainchild of Courtney Blanton and Tom Gimbel, co-founders of the aptly named “Hi, How Are You?” Foundation that promotes togetherness and education around mental well-being. It derives its name from the beloved Austin frog, “Jeremiah the Innocent”, famously painted on the corner of Guadalupe and 21^st Street by singer-songwriter and visual artist Daniel Johnston. Johnston’s own mental health issues have long been chronicled and serve as inspiration to the music community and beyond that mental wellness can be a challenge for all of us and we need to check our mental health just like we get a physical at the doctor. “Hi, How Are You?” Day, will be officially proclaimed by the City of Austin on January 22 and will remind citizens of Austin to check on their friends and neighbors’ mental health and offer assistance and resources if needed.

Tickets for the “Hi, How Are You?” Day show can be purchased for $10 in advance/$15 at the door for general admission, and $50 for the VIP ticket that includes art preview and sale, food and drink. Buy tickets at:

http://eventbrite.com/e/hi-how-are-you-day-a-celebration-of-music-art-and-community-mohawk-tickets-41472988826

"I have struggled with depression and anxiety throughout my life. I wanted a day to inspire and encourage others to talk openly about their own struggles and to really listen to and be with one another," said Courtney Blanton, co-founder of “Hi, How Are You?” Foundation. “My goal is to create a platform where leaders in the field of mental health come together to exchange ideas and foster positive change.”

"I have had the privilege of working with Daniel Johnston for 25 years,” said Tom Gimbel, co-founder of “Hi, How Are You?” Foundation. “He is both a longtime friend and a lifetime inspiration. I can’t believe that ‘Jeremiah the Innocent’ has been staring us in the face all this time and no one has thought about the true meaning.”

"SIMS Foundation is thrilled to be part of this creative effort to reduce stigma for seeking mental health services,” said Heather Alden, Executive Director of SIMS Foundation. "Musicians make eloquent and poetic work out of their emotions. But, emotional well-being can be difficult to maintain. We want the Austin music family and all Austinites to know resources exist for treating their mental health issues. "

"The Austin Music & Entertainment Division jumped at the chance to be involved in the inaugural ‘Hi, How Are You? Day,’" said Erica Shamaly, Division Manager at City of Austin Music & Entertainment Division. "Music is an integral component of what makes Austin special, but the hours and expectations of the industry can be tough, leading to addiction or other challenges. We must be sure that we check in on each other, and this event is a great reminder to do just that.”

ABOUT THE “HI, HOW ARE YOU?” FOUNDATION:

The “Hi, How Are You?” (HHAY) Foundation was created to generate new conversation around mental well-being. The name and city-proclaimed HHAY Day were inspired by Austin’s love for the iconic mural painted by Daniel Johnston. On January 22^nd (Johnston’s birthday) Austinites are encouraged to check in on a neighbor, friend, co-worker, family member, or loved one and ask, “Hi, How Are You?”. The Foundation, created with the support of the Johnston Family, provides a platform for the exchange of ideas and education on mental well-being. Johnston is a world-renowned musician and visual artist despite his own struggles with mental illness.  www.hihowareyou.org

ABOUT THE SIMS FOUNDATION:

The SIMS Foundation provides mental health and addiction recovery services to Austin musicians, music industry professionals, and their family members. SIMS was founded in 1995 to treat the Austin music family with high quality, low-barrier to entry mental health services for depression, anxiety, stage fright, alcohol and chemical substance use disorders, trauma, and other mental health issues. More information about SIMS Foundation, www.simsfoundation.org

ABOUT THE CITY OF AUSTIN MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION:

The ATX Music Office is an economic development accelerator and centralized resource center for Austin’s music industry, and an active community partner for Austin’s citizens, community groups, and neighborhoods. More information can be found at,

http://www.austintexas.gov/department/atxmusic/

MEDIA NOTE:

To RSVP for the Jan. 22 event, or general press inquiries, please contact

Courtney Blanton, [email protected], 917-853-0568.