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Visuals of mental health: Traveling exhibit comes to Fergus Falls

Fergus Falls Daily Journal - 8/10/2017

Aug. 10--It's a rare occasion when an open conversation can happen surrounding mental illness and health. Usually, mental health is a topic clouded with stigmas, stereotypes, confusion and sensitivity. Kaddatz Galleries and Lake Region Arts Council'sMcKnight Gallery are spaces where mental health and illness is expressed openly in multiple mediums. The public can walk into these spaces and experience what mental illness looks and feels like to those who have been personally affected by it and may even be able to work through their own experiences with mental illness when observing the works of art.

The exhibit, "Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art," will be featured at Kaddatz Galleries and Lake Region Arts Council'sMcKnight Gallery from Aug. 8 -- Oct. 6, in conjunction with Kirkbride Arts and History Weekend, happening on Sept. 15 and 16. The opening reception for the exhibit is Aug. 15, 5 -- 7 p.m. and a reception and artist's talk with artist, Rose Clancy, whose art is featured in the exhibit, will be on Sept. 15, 5 -- 7 p.m at Kaddatz Galleries. "Mindful" is a traveling exhibit organized by Society for Contemporary Craft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The exhibit features art that touches on the topics of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and tendencies and PTSD and the affects that mental illness can have on people. The showing in Fergus Falls is through a collaboration between Springboard for the Arts, Kaddatz Galleries, Lake Region Arts Council and Society for Contemporary Craft.

Naomi Schliesman, artist development director of Springboard for the Arts, said that plans to host the exhibit in Fergus Falls began in 2015 when executive director for Society for Contemporary Craft, Janet McCall, reached out to her.

"I have been aware of Springboard for the Arts for a number of years, " McCall said in an email. "In doing research for "Mindful," I learned specifically about the Imagine Fergus Falls project at Kirkbride, and it seemed like a perfect fit as a venue. Both "Mindful" and the Imagine Fergus Falls initiative offers the community a chance to engage in a meaningful way in conversations about mental health and resiliency through the perspective of artists."

McCall continued on saying that she felt both this program and exhibit gave visitors the opportunity to experience the creative power that art can have to deepen connection with others, offer healing and create hope of recovery. McCall feels that the Hinge Arts residencies program at Kirkbride provide a great foundation and support for artists and having the exhibit in conjunction with Kirkbride Arts and History Weekend and the work they have accrued over the past five years is an honor.

"Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art," opened in Sept. 18, 2015, to March 12, 2016. So far, the exhibit has featured at Ohio Craft Museum in Columbus, Ohio; Daura Gallery in Lynchburg, Virginia, and is now featured in Fergus Falls. The exhibit will go to Fuller Craft Museum in Brompton, Massachusetts. According to Schliesman, Fergus Falls is the only rural community that the "Mindful" exhibit is showing, which is a great opportunity. The exhibit features 14 artists and over 30 pieces of work, hence the two locations to show all the pieces. All of the pieces have labels with the artist's name, media used to create the piece, year it was made, if it's for sale and a brief statement about the piece. A catalogue also travels along with the exhibit with descriptions from the artists included and an article written by director at Springboard, Michele Anderson, providing background and history on the Springboard for the Arts, Hinge artist residency program and the Kirkbride included.

Kaddatz and Lake Region Arts Council are able to host "Mindful" because of the Minnesota State Arts Board Arts Tour grant that Anderson applied for a year ago. Anderson said one of the goals for the grant is to attract visitors to the exhibit from outside of Fergus Falls and because of a heightened interest in art and mental health.

"There is a heightened interest in the intersection of art and mental health in our community, because of the history of the Fergus Falls State Hospital being here and because we're known as a regional hub both for health care and for the arts," said Anderson in an email.

Fergus Falls received $10,000 from the program, covering the exhibit fee, shipping and to bring one of the artists, Rose Clancy, and people who helped organize the exhibit as a guest speaker on Sept. 15.

Having "Mindful" showcased at the Kaddatz Galleries and Lake Region Arts Council, McKnight Gallery is an exciting occurrence for all involved, because it allows a collaboration between urban and rural communities that doesn't usually happen. Amanda Cross, curator/education coordinator at Kaddatz Galleries thinks that it's a great opportunity to expose Fergus Falls to different ideas, ways of life and different art that look at mental illness in a variety of ways.

"It's an honor to have this show here at the Kaddatz. We have great contemporary artists included in the show and for it to be here in our rural community," Cross said.

Schliesman and Cross think that art is a powerful medium to help start the conversation on mental health and helps people understand it on a more visual and experiential level.

"It opens the door for people for wherever they are at when they approach mental illness," Cross said. "It allows them to push in a little bit deeper and lean in a little more into understanding what it may look like or feel like or how it may impact other people. I think through art, there is a way we can make things that are incredibly personal and sincere more readily visible than maybe we can do with words."

Schliesman couldn't think of one piece of art to feature. She helped with the installation and curating of the show and through that process, she felt the most impacted by the exhibit. Schliesman likes dedicating her time to the artists, helping create a voice for them and making sure their work is displayed how they want.

"Each piece has its own individual story I have been able to relate to in my own experience," Schliesman said. "For me, each of the artists have touched my heart and in a way it has been emotional to set this exhibition up as to where I have had to put that feeling in the back of my mind to make sure I am there and present with it."

Both Schliesman and Cross hope the community of Fergus Falls take the time to stop at "Mindful" while it's showing. They think it will be beneficial to anyone who wants to learn more about mental health and illness or for those who have been affected by it.

"Our community has been through alot in the past couple of years and I am hoping the exhibition can bring some healing to the community and gives people the courage to be able to talk about mental health," Schliesman said.

"Mindful" will be open until Oct. 6. The opening reception will be Aug. 15, 5 -- 7 p.m. and a reception and artist's talk with Rose Clancy will be Sept. 15, 5 -- 7 p.m at Kaddatz Galleries. For more information on "Mindful: Exploring Mental Health Through Art" exhibit or on upcoming events for the Kirkbride Arts and History Weekend, visit https://springboardforthearts.org/kirkbride-arts-and-history-weekend/.

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(c)2017 the Fergus Falls Daily Journal (Fergus Falls, Minn.)

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