Light into Dark Places: Art and Healing
Heather M Sloane, PhD, LISW, MSW & Dan Huesman, MSW, LSW | September 20-21 | Art Exhibit
This exhibit involves visual art collaboration between a variety of consumer artists and social service workers from major community mental health organizations in the Toledo area. Each of these organizations has built art interventions into their services. The art in this exhibit was inspired by an open call based on a quote by Alexander Papaderos, a peace activist and scholar: "I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world -- into the black places in the hearts of men -- and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life."
Exhibit Objectives:
· Consider how communities can honor and respect the insights of those with mental illness.
· Identify the impact of art interventions on healing.
· Demonstrate the power of creative writing, art, and photography to raising awareness about injustice.
· Counter stereotypes about mental illness and understand how disrupting stereotypes is crucial in erasing implicit bias.
· Inspire agencies to provide art interventions that encourage connection and better understanding of mental illness.