Art imitates life: Show focuses on recovery

TRAVERSE CITY -- Mental illness. Substance abuse. Grief. Loss. Domestic violence. Divorce. Physical illness.

Recovering from such issues in life can take time, and work. Now an art show showcasing the journey of recovery through art is opening Friday at the InsideOut Gallery in Traverse City.

"Art of Recovery: The Human Journey" was organized by Northern Lakes Community Mental Health as part of an anti-stigma campaign. The agency solicited entries from its six-county coverage area of Crawford, Grand Traverse. Leelanau, Missaukee, Roscommon and Wexford.

"The art show gives people an opportunity to really celebrate their gifts as they go through the recovery process," said Cynthia Peterson, Northern Lakes CMH Community and Provider Relations Coordinator and one of the event organizers. "When they show their art it sort of levels the playing field.

"We hope this show will help people appreciate that we are all in this journey together."

Most of the art in the show is paintings or drawings, but Peterson said they have also received some jewelry and photographs.

"We're getting a number of wonderful pieces in," she said. "We have one powerful piece that shows a person under a chair and it's titled 'Neurosis.'"

"Hopefully this will increase dialog and we can get to where people can discuss it openly so that they and their families won't feel so isolated."

The organization received an anti-stigma grant from the State of Michigan and has been working to dispel the stigma associated with mental illness.

"We've done a number of different projects including photobiographies that were displayed at the library," said Peterson.

Participants in that project were handed disposable cameras and asked to document the world around them. The images were displayed at the Traverse Area District Library in May.

Many of the pieces at the "Art of Recovery" show will include a short biography of the artist. Some will be for sale, said Peterson.

Mike Curths, owner of InsideOut Gallery, said he is looking forward to hosting the show.

"I try to do things for the community number one, but I also thought it will be pretty interesting to see how many people are out there who have a lot of talent and haven't been able to show it," he said.

InsideOut showcases urban and underground art, which is typically edgier than more traditional works.

"People who are recovering from something typically don't paint pretty landscapes," he explained. "Art doesn't have to be pretty, it needs to make you think."

The opening reception for the public is from 5-9 p.m. Friday. Entertainment will be provided by Hammer'd, a dulcimer group whose members include Diane Lowes and Jacqui Rutherford, who work for Northern Lakes CMH, and Polly Dux and Elaine Hall. Rob Rich will be on drums.

There will also be a screening of the 20-minute documentary, "To See What I See," about the photobiography project.

The show will continue through the month of November. InsideOut is located at 229 Garland. Call 935-3099.

Photos

Brent Pennell works on some of his art at his Traverse City home. Pennell-s artwork will be featured in the show, 'Art of Recovery: Human Journey,' in November. Record-Eagle