An art exhibit taking over White Rock’s Landmark Pop-Uptown Gallery this month will showcase a diverse canvas of talents and mediums, from hobbyist creations to professional-level works.
But its goal is much greater than offering a simple display for public perusal.
Dubbed Colourful Shades of Expression, organizers say the Oct. 5-27 exhibit is a celebration of creative resilience that they hope will build understanding, awareness and empathy towards those in the community who are living with mental illness.
“There is this kind of well of creativity that lots of people dip into as they’re going through their mental-health journeys, or in general, and that’s one of the ways they find resilience and express themselves, and there’s some really unique and beautiful, creative works that come out of that,” said Leah Kasinsky, an occupational therapist with Fraser Health’s White Rock/South Surrey Mental Health and Substance Use Services and one of the exhibit’s three organizers.
“On the other side… (it’s a) way of doing some education that’s not just telling people some information, but education by seeing a little bit of the humanity of people.”
The exhibit – in the works for about eight months, following confirmation of the 15140 North Bluff Rd. venue – will feature the works of more than two dozen Fraser Health and Options Community Services clients, with paintings, photographs and fabric art among the mediums.
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Kasinsky, who works on the Peace Arch Hospital campus, said building understanding around mental health is key to reducing the stigma that continues to linger around it, to the extent that some exhibit participants have declined to have their names disclosed with their creations.
“The majority are interested in putting themselves out there,” Kasinsky said. But, “it’s hard sometimes to know what experiences people will meet as far as stigma goes.”
Anne Gagnon said White Rock has “come a long way,” when it comes to support and understanding for people living with mental illness.
“When I got sick, there was nothing,” said Gagnon, 68.
“White Rock didn’t have a mental-health unit, and they didn’t even have a psych ward. I didn’t have anybody to talk to.”
Now, she and countless others have access to resources through organizations like Options Community Services and White Rock/South Surrey Mental Health and Substance Use Services.
Contributing around five needlepoint works to Colourful Shades of Expression – including a display-only piece that has graced a wall of the Whale House clubhouse in White Rock since 1994 – Gagnon said the creative outlet keeps her mind away from negative thoughts that in the past, led her to harm herself.
“I have come a long way. And my crafting, my needlework has really helped with that,” she said.
For John Skaling, art – from writing to painting – is an outlet for expressing feelings, thoughts and observations; some are abstract, while others “are more intentional.”
“I’m trying to get a message across,” the South Surrey man said. “If I feel bad about something or I’m having trouble with something, I’ll try to express it.
“It’s better than therapy,” he added. “You can be real to yourself.
“I’m just hoping that when I say things in art, someone’s going to relate to it.”
He described the exhibit as “good opportunity” that he hopes will be educational.
“I hope people who may not know about mental health or have some kind of stereotypical view of mental-health patients, maybe they’ll go in there and it will change their mind, or they’ll see something they didn’t expect to see.”
Gagnon said she wants people who come by the gallery leave with “a smile.”
“I want them to feel like we’re doing something positive. I’ve really changed in my outlook in life and I hope I can change somebody else.”
Erin Kowbel, a mental-health worker with Options Community Services’ supported-living program in White Rock, noted that people living with mental illness in the community “are our mothers, our brothers, our neighbours, our friends – and they’re also artists.”
“The people in our program are living independently and live full, rich lives,” she continued. “I think it’s important to bring them all together… foster those protective factors of connectedness and belonging and purpose.”
Kasinsky said endeavours like the exhibit help reduce the stigma that continues to linger around mental illness.
“I feel like the solution is pretty clear, which is, the things that we get to know and become familiar with and start to care about become less scary.”
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Opening night of the exhibit is set for 5-8 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 5). Following that, it will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 1-5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Oct. 27. There is just one Sunday opening, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 15, to coincide with the White Rock Arts Festival-Culture Crawl that weekend.
Some artists will be offering their works for sale. Any proceeds stay with the artist.