January 10, 2004
Fine Lines
Today my husband and I joined our friends Monch and Kerri and went downtown to the Witte Museum (pronounced "witty") to see a very moving exhibit called "Fine Lines - Mental Health/Mental Illness," by Michael Nye. It featured 60 black-and-white photographs/portraits, each accompanied by 1-5 minutes of the photo's subject talking about his/her life and mental health/illness. Most of the subjects were themselves diagnosed with a mental illness, although some were friends, family, or caregivers.
The four of us spent almost two hours in the exhibit, yet it felt like 10 minutes. We all became utterly absorbed by the stories and struggles of these people. What struck me the most, however, was the sheer diversity of the subjects. Black, white, Hispanic, Italian, Indian - doesn't matter. Mental illness doesn't discriminate. College professors, homeless men, pregnant women, ministers, writers, physicians - again, mental illness doesn't discriminate. The fact that it affects so many people of varying socio-economic backgrounds is staggering. I think it's a shame that mental illness remains a taboo subject, and that our government puts millions of dollars into physical health care, but often overlooks mental health care.
The exhibit leaves the Witte Museum tomorrow, and I hope it will be shown at other museums in other parts of the United States. If it is, and if it comes to your town, I strongly encourage you to go. If you are unfamiliar with mental illness, it is a jarring and moving introduction to the devastation of disease and the strength of the human spirit. For those who struggle with mental illness or know/love someone who does, I imagine it will affirm your own experiences and beliefs. It certainly reinforced my decision to become a social worker, to work with those afflicted by mental illness, and to work toward social justice.
I also saw echoes of myself and my own demons in the lives of the men and women who so bravely shared their stories with me. I hope one day I will have the same courage to share my story too.
nesting - September 05, 2006
I'm here!! - August 25, 2006
Finally, some good news - March 02, 2006
The Day That Almost Was - February 26, 2006
can you keep a secret? - February 01, 2006
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