A new interactive exhibit in Honolulu makes the case that looking at and making art measurably improves brain health — a bright spot for anyone looking for low-cost ways to manage stress.

• "Vital Connections: Art and the Brain" is now open in the museum's special exhibition gallery and runs through January 10.
• The show was built with a Hawaii brain research group, so the science is woven into the displays rather than tacked on.
• Visitors start at a "nervous system reset" station with hand-made wooden breathing boxes that guide slow box breathing to calm the body before viewing.
• One room lets people move and shift their balance while the artwork responds, turning viewing into a two-way exchange.
• A newly donated piece by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama anchors a section on "flow," the relaxed, creative state people reach while making art, surfing, or playing music.

Outlook: The exhibit stays open Wednesday through Sunday at regular admission, free for members, with no extra ticket needed.