NAMI Wisconsin’s12th Annual Healing Art Show20

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Hosted By Lakeside St. Coffee House402 W. Lakeside St.,

Madison, WI 53715

Exhibition September 28 - November 9, 2018

An Exhibit of Works Created by Individuals Living with Mental Illness

#HealingArtShow

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About the Healing Art Show

Many people living with mental illness use art as a creative outlet to express and understand their emotions, perceptions, and behaviors. Art can be a powerful therapeutic tool that fosters insight and clarity, and promotes healing and empowerment.

The Healing Art Show exhibits diverse works of self-taught and professional artists who have experienced mental illness and found comfort, hope, and recovery through art. The exhibit is a way of empowering a talented and beautiful group of individuals while reaching out to the community to gain support, compassion, and awareness of mental illness. It is also meant to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness by showcasing artistic works and personal strengths that challenge the general public’s typical understanding of mental illness, by portraying it instead as a creative exploration. The exhibit allows artists to share their story in a safe environment where they aren’t seen as their diagnoses, rather, they’re seen as an artist with incredible talents, bringing us along on their journey through life.

Interested in buying artwork from the Healing Art Show? Please contact NAMI Wisconsin calling (608) 268-6000 or emailing nami@namiwisconsin.org to see if the art is still available.

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AbIgAIl geSzvAIn ........................................................6

AmAndA m SmItH .........................................................6

AngelA mCCORmICK ...................................................7

AngelICA JOHnSOn ......................................................7

bUSY bee ......................................................................8

CAtRICe vUKOdInOvICH .............................................8

CHRIStIne lewIS ..........................................................9

d.J. HenRY ......................................................................9

dAnIel StOUt ................................................................10

dAnIelle ........................................................................10

dAvId ..............................................................................11

dAvId FeIngOld ............................................................11

dAvId g SCHRAnKleR ..................................................12

dennISe wIlSOn ..........................................................12

dUAne SCHneIdeR ......................................................13

emIlY FRIttS .................................................................13

eRICA FAlK-HUzAR .......................................................14

HAnnA bRUeR ...............................................................14

HAnnAH SAllmAnn ......................................................15

J tAnnIlle SCHmeCHel ...............................................15

JAClYn OROzCO .............................................................16

JAY ...................................................................................16

Jed (nOt JedIdIAH) .......................................................17

Artist Index

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JImmY YAnnY .................................................................17

JOAn S .............................................................................18

JOe A JACObSOn ............................................................18

JUdItH bRAdSHAw-ROUSe ..........................................19

KAIleY SmItH ................................................................19

KARen bOeR ..................................................................20

KAtHleen lYnn ............................................................20

KAtIe SwAnSOn ............................................................21

KellY lIngen ................................................................21

KIRSten KIRSCHbAUm ................................................22

m PeteRSOn .................................................................22

mICHAel wARd .............................................................23

nAte 7 ............................................................................23

RICK Klemz ...................................................................24

ROARIng RObeRt .........................................................24

RObIn .............................................................................25

ROSe menYOn HeFlIn ..................................................25

SAbRInA m. nORtHeRn ...............................................26

SAmAntHA eSPInOSA ..................................................26

SAmAntHA StORteCKY ................................................27

SARA A.bRAUn ..............................................................27

SHAnnOn SmItH ...........................................................28

SHelbY bROwn .............................................................28

SUSAn C. mAdeR ..........................................................29

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tAd ISHIKAwA ................................................................29

tHeReSe wenSel YAnnY .............................................30

tOm .................................................................................30

tOnY KInnARd ...............................................................31

wAYne ............................................................................31

XAndeR RenISH ............................................................32

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AbigAil geszvAin

Self Portrait No.1Acrylic on canvas20” x 16”Not for sale

AmAndA m smith

“I have always dealt with my stress through drawing or painting. When I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, it was my way of trying to balance my mind, and I continue to do it still.”

“My paintings are meant to convey a story about my life with a mood that shows a very dark battle of depression, while at the same time alluding that there is still hope and peace to be found. I have been working on my own style for over 20 years, building up a personal language of ‘recovery is possible’ through my art. I have this unique view of the world - presented through a free verse poem, layers of color, shape, and texture. I ‘paint’ my canvases with emotions that I can’t speak about verbally to others. My style is based on my free verse poem that I write with my painting. I use it to find my inspiration, or to identify with my emotions and the story that I am trying to tell. I paint because it’s not only a passion of mine, but it’s very healing for me because it allows me to be able to release whatever feeling or emotion that I am battling with.”

Eye of the Storm

Acrylic

9” x 11”

For sale $300

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AngelA mccormick“My illness has taken some of my life, but has given some of it back as well in different areas. One of them is art. I was into art when I was a teen, but then lost it in my 20s and parts of my 30s. Since then, I have come to find I have many talents in all aspects of creating art. This new mixed media is my favorite. Once bound to not being able to do it (as my illness had blocked me from creating things like this), I now am open to this type of art. Creating art is part of expressing me, and my bipolar disorder.”

Love

Mixed media

9’5” x 9’5”

For sale $55

More then just a gloomy day

Photograph

8” x 10”

For sale $30

“I have struggled with depression, self-harm, borderline personality disorder (BPD), anxiety, and PTSD for 14 years. For the last 2 years, my mental health has been stable.”

AngelicA Johnson

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bUsY bee

AMERICA THE

BEAUTIFUL

Mixed media

24” x 24”

For sale $200

“After I was injured and honorably discharged from my military duty, my life was never the same. I had difficulty returning to my civilian life, family, and job - as the tasks seemed both extremely mentally and physically challenging. I was not able to return to the field of work that I specialized, the family that I love, nor community that I came from. I became more depressed, hyper-vigilant, and home bound until I started exploring art as therapy and pain management for my mental anguish and physical pain. Although I spent more than 100 hours in the process of designing, planning, and putting together the entire artwork to fruition - from my dreams, passion, anxiety, frustration, and depression - I truly enjoyed the hours spent in contemplation and the meditation process as I have learned to wait and be patient to see what else I need to add to make my art popup with a 3-D effect and whimsical look each time I combine the colors to create the desired texture. Doing my art gives me a creative outlet for all the feelings and frustrations that I am feeling inside me. I finally found the guts and got my voice back as I shared my stories in the various communities that I show my art pieces.”

cAtrice vUkodinovich“From my personal experience, creativity is one of the greatest weapons we will ever have against depression. Depression, for me, is when the loss of hope has become so complete, we lose self, value, and perception of who we are. I became a suicide attempt survivor on December 2, 2015, and have been on the path to self-discovery and recovery from multiple mental illnesses ever since. As an artist, I believe it is my job to speak to the souls of individuals, and ignite a desire for change. I strive to be a focus-shifter, perspective-changer, and difference-maker in the lives of people who feel hopeless. I am in school to be an art therapist because I believe creativity is the most powerful weapon against mental illness. Creativity is the expression of self. Not in an egotistical way, but in an ‘I-proved-that-I-am-an-individual-because-without-me-this-couldn’t-exist’ way. Creativity proves self, proves value, and proves life. Creativity invites someone else into your story in a way that is not scary. Creativity lets you express what your deepest feelings are without having to say them. It is a tool to say, ‘I am here. I am alive.’ That matters. This art matters.”

The Creators Hand

Acrylic on canvas

16” x 20”

For sale $175

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christine lewis

Taos Church

Acrylic on canvas

36” x 24”

For sale $75

“Learning to live with bipolar mental illness first required accepting that I’m powerless over this medical diagnosis, and that my life is unmanageable without complying with my medications and psychiatric care. Once I learned to fully embrace my bipolar beginning in spring 2012, I have been on the road to recovery. The creative outlet of painting is like meditation for me - I stop thinking about my problems in life, and focus on color, getting a brush stroke just right, a detail in the painting, etc. I get lost in the creativity, and I feel lighter and more carefree. I am a self-taught artist who enjoys learning from each creation. Georgia O’Keefe’s desert landscape paintings from New Mexico are my favorite pieces. I travelled to New Mexico in the late 1990s, and had the opportunity to see first-hand the beautiful landscape she famously painted. The Taos Church painting I submitted for this exhibit was painted from one of my photographs on that New Mexico trip.”

d.J. henrY“I’ve lived with my illness for 9 years, and it has made me realize if I can survive this, I will have the resiliency to bounce back from anything. One thing has always kept me company: Never being too far from my thoughts and my first love, drawing fantasy art. It has helped me through all the years of depression and anger.”

Purple Rose

Acrylic

24” x 18”

For sale $75

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dAniel stoUtDaniel Stout sees things differently. That difference informs his view of the world, and what he captures through the lens. He has been taking his camera far and wide the past 20 years to bring back and share some of the beauty he has seen. Through his photography work for NAMI Dane County, photographing events and the NAMIWalk, he hopes to serve as a positive role model for living a good life with mental illness. Stigma is largely the product of ignorance, and by showing the beauty in life, he works little by little to change people’s minds.

Warner Park

Photography

13” x 13”

For sale $100

dAnielle“Artwork helps me to express myself without words. I enjoy the process, and for me, it is not only about the end product. It’s also a social thing for me; I enjoy painting with a friend, and drinking a hot cup of coffee. The art piece that I’m submitting is supposed to show that there is beauty in mental illness.”

There is beauty in mental illness

Acrylic

13.5” x 13.5”

Not for sale

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dAvid“I have enjoyed the help my mental health team has given me in my life. Art is also something that has always been there for me. My mother was an artist, and I always drew as a child. My parents displayed my art on the refrigerator. In high school, I took every art class I could take. I then studied commercial art at Madison College. My teachers were good people, and I liked learning from them. I worked drafting signs next. For my art, I sketch and paint, but my favorite is pen and ink - especially stippling. Stippling uses small dots to simulate solidity and shading; it can be in color or black and white.”

Skull with Eyes

Pen & ink

17.5” x 14.5”

For sale $200

dAvid Feingold“I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and temporal lobe epilepsy approximately 18 years ago. A closed-head injury was the genesis of both illnesses. I have used artwork as a way to center myself and find a balance, emotionally and practically, in my day-to-day activities and demands. I spend a lot of my retirement from my social work profession, not only doing art, but submitting to art exhibits. I feel every art exhibit I display my work at provides the opportunity to present awareness of bipolar disorder, and to see those that have it as people, and not just subjects of sensational news items and objects of derision.”

past. tense.

Digital

18” x 15.5”

For sale $125

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dAvid g schrAnklerDavid lives in Madison, and has suffered from depression for the past 30 years since college. While his art training is minimal, his natural creativity has continually risen to the surface; in performance, woodworking, landscaping, writing, digital graphics, and web design. After taking a drawing class in college, he did not do any drawing again until this year. David rediscovered drawing while in the Dane County Jail. Since his release, he has created over 60 thought provoking pieces. Pursuing his artistic endeavors puts David in a state of “flow,” allowing him reprieve from his symptoms.

Worlds Together, Alone

Mixed media

14” x 17”

For sale $225

dennise wilson

Koi in Water

Watercolor & pencil

19” x 23”

Not for sale

“I have been an artist most of my life, and I feel it is a positive way for me to truly express my emotions as I now recover from PTSD. Art runs deep in my family history, and I’ve always felt that it’s easier to paint or draw my emotions and experiences rather than write them (which makes the experience more real to me again).”

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dUAne schneider“I enjoy making art and being creative. I enjoy acrylic painting. I have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, and am in recovery. I volunteer at The Gathering Place. The Gathering Place has art classes each year. I also lived in Madison and attended art classes at Cornucopia.”

Diamond Daisy

Acrylic

18” x 24”

Not for sale

emilY Fritts“As a young female, the world is already hard enough. Being born into a family where mental illness is very prominent makes it even more difficult. All my life, I’ve been told the word ‘can’t.’ Doctors saying things like, ‘We can’t say that for sure, you’re too young.’ Adults saying, ‘You can’t pursue art as a career, you’ll make no profit.’ Acquaintances saying, ‘I can’t help you. I can’t take you seriously.’ I’ve been told this word for my entire life. But I won’t allow it any longer. Through art, I’m able to break free from the limits people think my mind has on me. I’m able to paint, and let my inner thoughts out in colors and brush strokes. I can find spiritual and physical relief through my artwork. I can prove with my artwork that I can do the things I’ve been told I can’t. The sickness in my brain does not limit me; it only pushes me to do more.”

Perjury of the Modern Day Crusaders

Acrylic on canvas

24” x 18”

Not for sale

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ericA FAlk-hUzAr“I live with Schizoaffective and bipolar disorder, and have struggled for many years with bouts of mania, depression, and psychosis. Though I have been rather stable for the last 10 years, symptoms often surface (albeit not as severe). I surround myself in art, mainly paper crafts such as scrap booking and stamping, but I also dabble in mixed media and art journaling. Crafting, in any form, is highly therapeutic for me. We all know that stress induces symptoms. So, crafting is my choice of stress reliever.”

Stigma Shames

Mixed media

8” x 8”

Not for sale

hAnnA brUer“Living with BPD presents me with challenges every day, but I’ve found that painting helps me greatly. Having a creative outlet provides a productive way to manage my emotions and control some of my behaviors.”

Kill to Protect

Acrylic & ink on wood panel

16” x 20”

For sale $140

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hAnnAh sAllmAnn“Art gives tangible form to the feelings that words cannot describe, whether they be too abstract, too confusing, too complicated, or too painful. I was 4 years old when I lost my brother in a car accident, and for the majority of my life, my brain has pushed that unresolved grief deep within my mind. Unfortunately, this repression often creates even more damage by preventing healing from taking place. Every spring, the reminder of my brother’s death triggers thoughts of hopelessness during a time when my clinical depression emerges in full effect. Then, when the days become longer and warmer, those painful memories again conceal themselves away from my awareness. Through the act of creating art, I can allow my subconscious mind to express its grief in a safe, judgement-free space entirely under my control and discretion. When my depressive episodes distort my perception of reality and strand my mind in a fog of anxiety and isolation, making art gives my life an outlet and a purpose. The images generated from my states of depression create a space for analysis, dialogue, positive self-reflection, and, ultimately, healing. Once I ‘see’ my feelings, I can then process what they mean, and discuss them more easily with my therapist.”

The Fall

Acrylic on linoleum

9” x 12”

Not for sale

J tAnnille schmechel“I had been hospitalized about a year ago due to mental illness and self-harm. It was in the hospital that I explored art therapy. I didn’t know I had any artistic ability, but drawing with pastels just felt right. I was able to create something beautiful, and express myself in a time where I wasn’t able to understand or verbalize my feelings. Art has given me the ability to cope with my mental illness. My art allows me to show the world who I am through expression of feelings that I had struggled having. I would not have made it this last year without the drawings I have created. It opened my eyes to an entire new world that was accepting and forgiving. I want to share my journey of mental illness and recovery through my drawings.”

Litost

Soft pastels & stretch canvas

48” x 30”

For sale $450

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JAclYn orozcoJaclyn is a 41-year old, self-taught, amateur artist, and single mother of 2 teens. She’s a teacher, a religious educator, a waitress, and so many other things. Jaclyn uses art to process the difficult emotions that are associated with her depression, PTSD, and the life experiences that led to her diagnosis. While she is extremely busy, art is a necessary part of her life, as it gives her a platform for self-expression. Jaclyn began painting at the age of 39 after her second divorce, and loves working in both acrylic and mixed media.

Mindful Peace

Mixed media

2’ x 3’

For sale $325

“I’ve had mental issues for most of the last 37 years. I’ve been hospitalized 19 times (1971-1983), and I have been hospitalized the last 34 years. I discovered I had a strong artistic drawing and painting ability in 1985. So, I began to buy art skills books (plus, met other patients with full college trainings), and then applied my strong, creative brain, and ‘aha!’ ideas. I really love art, and it’s given me better self-worth. I enjoy the many compliments and, ‘Wows!’ too.”

Emotions in Motion

Mixed papers acrylic

24” x 24”

For sale $80 (frame not included)

JAY

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Jed (not JedidiAh)“I’ve struggled with mental illness for as far back as I can remember, and my artwork has always been a therapeutic outlet - allowing me to focus on something other than the issues which have proved overwhelming at times.”

Dazzle Camouflage

Mixed media

18” x 24”

For sale $50

JimmY YAnnY“Painting forces me to plan my day. I never think I can do good, but once I start and get feedback from others, I feel good about it. It gives my life structure. I won in the Burlington Wisconsin Regional Art Program (WRAP) show again in 2018. I entered the same piece in last year’s NAMI Wisconsin 11th Annual Healing Art Show.”

Mare Relaxing in Pasture

Watercolor

19” x 23”

Not for sale

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JoAn s“As a mental health consumer, I tried art therapy as a way to recovery. I am a member of Cornucopia, and I go to art therapy. I find doing art therapeutic, and helps me find the positive in myself. I have found healing and recovery through doing art and expressive movement.”

Self Portrait

Acrylic on canvas

8”x 11”

Not for sale

Joe A JAcobson“The same year that I had my first hallucination (age 5; 1994), was the same year my mother taught me to read, write, and draw after I tried to explain my hallucinations to her. She was never acceptant of my hallucinations back then, but she is today. If she had not taught me those skills, I do not know where my life would had gone - maybe politics or into the military. Today, I am able to admit that I have been having a 9-year (to this estimated date) auditory hallucination with occasional visual hallucinations. I am not ashamed of this fact, and I do not think that others should be. I don’t expect to sell any of my art. In fact, I like being in possession of my own art, but if I can collect enough money to finally start my small business, it will be worth it. I would have to sell several pieces at the price I set, but even one sale would be a great step.”

A First Story of a Tree

Oil pastel

8.5” x 11”

For sale $1,300

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JUdith brAdshAw-roUse“I have bipolar, anxiety, and PTSD. I was labeled with bipolar disorder over 30 years ago. In the last 10 years, I began having panic attacks that lasted for hours. Connected with my disorders, it became clear I have PTSD. My artwork has saved me by giving me something positive to focus on.”

GROWTH

Mixed media

25” x 33”

For sale $250

kAileY smith“Creativity and depression have been my good friends for some time now, but not always simultaneously. Currently, I’m at the best point that I’ve been with my depression and anxiety in years. In a big part due to mindfulness, and I am relearning how to blend mental illness and art in constructive ways. Through pieces like ‘Volatile,’ I’m allowing my inside thoughts and feelings to be free. It’s a hard and uncomfortable experience, especially when I consider sharing it with the public, but it’s time to not let my creativity be consumed by the internal voices in my head. Putting the dark, twisted, and pointy shapes on a page expels the voice that is not me.”

Volatile

Ink

11” x 14”

For sale $75

2020

kAren boer“I am an artist who has struggled with depression and attention-deficit disorder (ADD) all my life. I was not diagnosed until I was an adult. So, I spent most of my childhood wondering what was wrong with me. Why wasn’t I like everyone else? Doing art was my escape, and way to deal with it. I could lose myself in the art, and forget about my troubles - for a while, anyway. I like to share my art and skills with others, and I volunteer at a day club for people with mental illness. I help them to use arts and crafts as a way to bring some joy into their lives, and as a kind of meditative therapy. I am inspired by nature, and I enjoy capturing the beauty of it. I love color, and I use it along with tones, shades, highlights, and shadows to try to bring subjects forward and make objects appear 3-D and lifelike. I also have been experimenting with abstracts, and like to use bright, happy colors. My goal as an artist is to create works that bring pleasure to peoples’ lives. I paint in oils and acrylics on canvas, and I also do murals. I enjoy working with textiles, beads, and mosaics, as well as photography. I also do commissions and pet portraits.”

Bassett Hound

Acrylic on canvas

11” X 14”

Prints available at $20

kAthleen lYnn“I have been painting and drawing since I was a child. I have experienced trauma, and making art has been my escape.”

Barn

Oil painting

34” x 38”

For sale $150

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kAtie swAnson“I have bipolar disorder and social anxiety. I use art as a therapy and an exploration of myself. I like doing self portraits and portraits of loved ones. In my art, I explore issues like relationships and self-esteem. I also like to recreate old memories. I am interested in my own development as a person. For fun, I do things like flowers, dogs, and cats. Doing art is fun, and also helpful in examining my life. I have always loved doing art, and it has helped me through many hard times. I enjoy it therapeutically, and I enjoy improving my skills. It gives me an outlet creatively, and a sense of pride and purpose. I enjoy doing portraits and self portraits to explore the people in my life that I care about, as well as my own self. Art is a way for me to explore humanities, the many aspects of my life, and even my disorder and how I live.”

Rose

Photo plate print

11” x 14”

For sale $65

kellY lingen“As a teenager, I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. I have always loved drawing, painting, and creating things. Now, more than 20 years later, I’m still finding that art is a way to heal and balance my emotions. At the same time, it’s so nourishing to my soul. I love to use my artwork as a means of reaching out to others who may be fighting similar battles, and to help break down the negative stigmas that are attached to mental illnesses. There is beauty in this darkness.”

“If I got rid of my demons, I’d lose my angels.” ~Tennessee Williams.

Bipolar Purgatory-Self Portrait

Acrylics

14” x 11”

Not for sale

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kirsten kirschbAUm

m Peterson“I have been drawing all of my life, and found it a safe and creative place for me to go. My first depression hit at age 17, and I struggled with the lows (and subsequent highs) related to bipolar disorder. Nonetheless, I kept drawing, and eventually got professional help. Now, I am in recovery and making art a priority in my life, and sharing it and my mental illness journey with others.”

“I was diagnosed my freshman year of high school, but due to another medical problem, I cannot take medicine. In place of medicine, I processed and expressed myself through art. Dance and photography became how I could communicate what I was feeling, and became a main part of my therapy.”

Overwhelmed Through

the Dam

Ink pen

18” x 24”

Not for sale

Still

Photography

8” x 10”

For sale $75

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michAel wArd

nAte 7

Michael was born on September 29, 1978. After his arrival on the way home, a car jumped in front of his father’s vehicle, which caused a severe accident that seriously injured Michael. Doctors today label him as having cerebral palsy. Michael’s mother and father were both artists. It was always an adventure tracing over the lines of his mother’s drawings, coloring the world as he imagined. Objects and shapes became a big part of Michael’s life, but it was not until his adulthood that he became confident and ready to expose his work. Throughout high school, Michael was always considered an outcast. However, this only made him more real, providing the extra push and fire beneath his feet to find his Superman.

Psyschochsos

Media unknown

29” x 23”

For sale $420 (frame not included)

the crazy world of Obsurd

Mixed media

16” x 20”

For sale $165

“I am schizophrenic. I am an artist. It’s a mystery how I express myself to this nonbeliever, a medium to artistic spirits, and a decision to the doctors. Modern psychic avatar advanced artificial intelligence technology... crazy psychic hand.”

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rick klemz

roAring robert

“I did not know I had a mental illness until I wound up at Mendota. Knowing what I know now, I was bipolar II with a severe depressive disorder. I had it all my life. Once I started therapy classes and mindful coloring with Jamie - something just clicked. I was always creative, but not in arts. I find it very relaxing, and it puts me in a great state of mind. Colored pencils are what I’m best at so far, but I’m working on becoming a better painter.”

LOVE IN ANY LANGUAGE

(& CULTURE)

Mixed media

24” x 24”

For sale $200

Moon River

Acrylic on canvas

12” x 16”

For sale $35

“After I was injured and hospitalized, my life was never the same. I tried returning to my job, but the task seemed both extremely mentally and physically challenging. I was eventually laid off because of my disability. Depression set in over time as I was not able to return to the field of work that I specialized. I became more home bound until I started exploring art as therapy. Although I spent about 100 hours to design, plan, and put together the entire artwork to fruition, I truly enjoyed the contemplation and meditation process as I have learned to wait and be patient to see what else I need to add to make the piece 3-D and interesting to look at each time I return to work on it. Doing my art is a creative outlet for all the feelings and frustrations that are pent up. I finally found my courage and got my voice back as I shared my stories in the community that I show my art.”

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robin

rose menYon heFlin

“At age 6 1/2, my father started sexually abusing me until I was 16. I also played in the family band; so, there wasn’t any way to get away from my abuser. Fast-forward 2 years, I tried to take my life, but I lived. It was hard with the pain I was going through. I was released into my parents’ care, and no help was given for my mental illness or depression. I went to college at University of Wisconsin (UW) - Baraboo, but didn’t last one semester. I had no self-esteem, and felt and acted like the victim I was. My second oldest sister helped me to go through some therapy, but I couldn’t open up to my therapist. Several years later, I married an emotionally and mentally abusive man, and was married to him for 17 years. After I got into trouble’ I was ordered by a judge to see a psychologist. I had dealt with some of my sexual abuse issues with my sister in group therapy, but didn’t have enough self-esteem to recognize the abusive relationship I had with my husband. I started expressing myself through sewing by doing art wall hangings and other items. I really wanted to go back to college, but was constantly told, ‘You can’t make a living with art.’ I ended up divorcing my husband, eventually moved to northern Wisconsin in 2002, and went back to college in 2013. I graduated in 2015 with a degree in Graphic Design, and started painting again.”

Tuscan Landscape

Watercolor

4.5” x 6”

For sale $45

Fierce!

Watercolor

8” x 8”

For sale $150

“I suffer from severe OCD, and I have found art to be a very healing activity. It is both soothing and challenging, the latter of which I think appeals to some aspect of my OCD. Art is messy, which forces me to confront OCD symptoms related to cleanliness. Moreover, because the final product is never what you envision, it makes me deal with the debilitating perfectionistic tendencies that accompany my illness. Overall, art requires that I sit with obsessions and compulsions without acting on them (a goal of OCD treatment), and it is motivating enough that I am able to do so in a way that I cannot in traditional therapy or other activities. Ultimately, I find the process to be an enjoyable struggle.”

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sAbrinA m. northern

sAmAnthA esPinosA

“I live with BPD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression. I have facilitated the art group at Bridges Community Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin for 2 years. I enjoy being crafty, and believe that being creative daily is a vital aspect of my recovery.”

Galaxy Dreamcatcher

Acrylic paint

16” x 20”

For sale $60

Sabrina Marie

Painted canvas

16” x 20”

For sale $85

“I am mostly a loving wife, a mother of 2, a cat mom of 2, a student, and a volunteer. I work as a case manager for a vocational rehabilitation system, serving adults with various disabilities, including mental illness. I have worked in the human services field for around 6 years. I also live with mental illness, and have friends and family members who live with mental illness. I love art (mostly painting) because it allows me to express myself and my ideas. Art serves as a coping mechanism for me, allowing me to take a break from my struggles and focus on creating something interesting and beautiful.”

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sAmAnthA storteckY

sArA A.brAUn

“Coming from an abusive childhood, I’ve dealt with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. When I discovered film photography back in high school, it made me feel proud of myself. And, to this day, it is a reminder of how far I’ve come in my recovery.”

Mood episode

Oil pastels

9” x 22”

Not for sale

Light

Film photography

14” x 11”

For sale $30

“Hello, my name is Sara, and I suffer from bipolar disorder. I have found art to be a lifesaver. When I am doing my artwork, I am not thinking about my issues. Artwork has helped me to stop self-harm, and it’s a place where I find comfort and serenity when doing artwork. I have also been working with an art therapist - that is how I found out how healing artwork can be. When I do my artwork, I am not afraid, and I just focus on what I am doing. It has helped me be more mindful, and to give my mind rest by putting my emotions at ease. It’s taking a mental break from whatever is happening around me, or whatever I am dealing with at the moment.”

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shelbY brown“I was diagnosed with BPD, manic depression, and general anxiety disorder when I was 14. I’ve always felt defeated by my illnesses, and turned to drugs and self-harm for a bit. When I was on the verge of an anxiety attack or feeling down, I turned to art as a healthy way to cope. It has become an aspect of my life to throw my emotions onto a blank canvas to create something beautiful.”

Galaxy Beyond The Darkness

Watercolor

9” x 12”

For sale $120

shAnnon smith“Throughout my life, I have struggled with anxiety. The constant irrational fears were present long before memories were vivid. Then, depression emerged; effectively ending my childhood. With both anxiety and depression plaguing my heart, I learned that I can often turn to art to quiet the storm. My thoughts are primarily words; often those words are unhelpful and harmful. When I create art, I engage the part of my brain that thinks in images, colors, and form. When engaging that part of my brain, I often can quiet the darker thoughts, and enter a meditative place where I can be at peace. Art as a meditative practice is not always as healing as I would wish. Often, deep pains that I feel I cannot share with the world will emerge. Repressed emotion and memory fill up the pages. Once a piece is finished, I can no longer look at it without feeling my own pain. Yet, feeling my emotions and understanding them is progress. Putting myself on the page symbolically is just one step towards healing, and no longer hiding from myself. Art has helped me to let go of some of the shame associated with my mental illnesses.”

Entangled in Judgment

Digital

9.5” x 17”

For sale $100

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tAd ishikAwA“I am a landscape photographer from Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, who is subject to harsh critique in a mental world opposed from a city boasting beauty and intellect. I first heard human souls thinking and not thinking (a noumenon) when I studied photography at university in Vancouver. I moved back to Wisconsin shortly after that, where I furthered my idea of photography of interior spaces. This photograph took a lot of work and patience in the capturing process. Timing with the sunset was a key element as well.”

Opal Town

Digital photography

11” x 18”

For sale $120

sUsAn c. mAder

MaGee

Acrylic painting

18” x 24”

Not for sale

“I am an individual with 32 years of lived experience with mental illness, and in recovery. I am an advocate for mental health. I have worked as a mental health professional in Madison, and now as Executive Director of The Gathering Place Inc. located in Green Bay, 1 of 8 Peer Run Organizations in Wisconsin. Art has always been therapy for me. It is mindful, and a creative outlet. While living in Madison, I had a relapse, and began attending Cornucopia Inc., 1 of the 8 Peer Run Organizations located in Madison. Cornucopia has a strong Expressive Arts program. By being involved and taking classes, I gradually recovered. I create art when I feel the need. I enjoy acrylic painting best, and my favorite is portraits.”

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tom“The art seems to help me calm down when I’m up on my unit. It helps me get my frustrations out. I get along better with the other patients when I’ve created that day. My primary diagnosis is anxiety, but also depression, ever since returning from Vietnam. I’ve been through PTSD programming in Milwaukee and in Tomah. Ever since returning from ‘Nam, I’ve had a broken heart from having to leave them there. Why did I get to come back, but they didn’t?”

Heart and Hurt

Papier-mâché

10” x 6”

For sale $100

therese wensel YAnnY

Violet & Pink Girl

Gel pens

26” x 20”

For sale $300

“I’ve had mental illness since I was 21 years old. I started doing art in high school. I used to do a lot of painting and pottery back then. My siblings had the illness when I was a young child. So, I know a lot about the disease and grew up with it. I was interested in art through my brother, Jimmy Yanny, who I learn from, but I also do my own style in watercolors, acrylic, markers, cray-pas, colored pencils, and, most recently, gel pens. For me, art is a great outlet, and helps me cope with my illness. It makes me less depressed, and makes me feel proud of myself.”

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wAYne“I was always interested in drawing from my early teens. I won a contest once from the ‘draw me’ contest in magazines and comic books. I served in Vietnam as a Combat Medic with the Marines. When I returned, I was diagnosed with PTSD by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Many years later, I was informed I was mentally ill because of that and my alcoholism. When I was diagnosed with PTSD, it was considered a mental illness, same as alcoholism.”

Easy Target

Mixed media

8.5” x 5.5”

Not for sale

tonY kinnArd

Media Junkie

Digital

25” x 20”

For sale $150

“I’ve been dealing with depression and anxiety most of my life. Last year, I had a breakdown that resulted in hospitalization.”

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Trompe L’oeil Faces

Acrylic/indian ink

14” x 17”

For sale $300

“I joined the Navy at the young age of 17, and was deployed at 18 for my first tour overseas. I’ve actively tried to trace back my mental illness history and when symptoms first started to occur, but with being a veteran with multiple service-connected issues, both mentally and physically, the history can be complicated with external factors associated with military trauma. I believe that my service-connected depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc., in combination with a still developing young mind during my military tenure, brought forth my current mental illness diagnoses of bipolar disorder at an accelerated rate. During the years spent in the Navy, and shortly after I departed active duty, my mind was untreated, and the effects were misinterpreted. I leaned heavily on ‘self-medicating’ with alcohol and drugs to try to ‘weather the storm’, but ultimately worsened my mental health with years of abuse. Suicidal ideations were daily struggles, chronic depression and severe isolation was my norm. I was sick, and slipped further into the darkness with no reprieve. After a nearly completed suicide attempt, I was admitted into treatment at a VA mental health facility. Only then, through intensive therapy, and more importantly, the desperately needed medication, did I finally begin to slowly heal. In a short span of sobriety and recovery focusing on my relatively new, multiple diagnoses, my life quickly turned around and stabilized. I’ve reached multiple milestones, and have found a sense of peace and forgiveness.”

XAnder renish

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About nAmI wisconsin NAMI Wisconsin is the state affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

The mission of NAMI Wisconsin is to improve the quality of life of people affected by mental illness, and to promote recovery. NAMI Wisconsin accomplishes its mission through individual and legislative advocacy, education to the community, and support. To learn more, please visit www.namiwisconsin.org.

Thank you for supporting NAMI Wisconsin and the Healing Art Show!

WisconsinThe State’s Voice on Mental Illness

thank you to lakeside St. Coffee House for graciously hosting the 12th Annual Healing Art Show! we are so grateful for your continual support!

WisconsinThe State’s Voice on Mental Illness

nAmi wisconsinAdvocAcy • EducAtion • support

4233 w beltlIne HwY, mAdISOn, wI 53711(608) 268-6000 | www.nAmIwISCOnSIn.ORg