A group of community artists from across the Kansas City metro came together during Mental Health Awareness Month with one goal in mind: to start a conversation about mental health.
Art depicting the realities of depression, psychosis, grief and recovery lined the walls of The Velvet Nova as part of Wyandot BHN’s stART the conversation art exhibition. A steady stream of visitors moved through the space, taking in the artwork and the story behind each piece. For a number of visitors, the artwork evoked an emotional reaction.
"The artwork really focused on the parts of mental health that we don’t often talk about. I heard people having meaningful conversations and that really was the goal.”
“People saw themselves in the artwork. They saw their friends and family members in the artwork,” says Jordan Graves, Early Intervention Team Therapist. “The artwork truly started a conversation. The artists, the community, the viewers, everyone left with a better understanding and greater empathy for mental health.”
For the artists, the exhibition presented an opportunity for them to express themselves. Jalen, a member of the Hearing People Who Hear Voices group, spoke about the group’s artwork at the event in hopes of dispelling stereotypes tied to psychosis.
“In our painting, Declaration of Psychosis… we want to show that we are the same as you. We just have different ways of perceiving the world and we deserve empathy. We also wanted to show people with similar experiences that it’s okay to feel the way that you do.”
April, another featured artist, says the event allowed her to fulfill her dream of being part of an art exhibition.
"I have my own style of art and it makes me happy to share with others," says April. "Art makes me feel at peace with myself and feel connected to others. I hope that visitors get that we are special and we are caring. We're not scary. We are normal just like them."
Tiffane Friesen, Program Coordinator at ArtMakers Place, says she thought the event was a huge success.
“This was kind of a radical artshow. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The artwork really focused on the parts of mental health that we don’t often talk about,” says Friesen. “I heard people having meaningful conversations and that really was the goal.”
The exhibition was part of the larger Downtown KCK Third Friday Art Walk, which meant that many visitors to the exhibition stepped into the space without knowing what type of art was inside.
“To see their expressions change as they walked through, you could see when they 'got it,’” says Graves. “I think these people were some of the most moved. They began to get emotional, taking pictures, talking to their friends or family they came in with, and explaining their connection with the pieces.”
After seeing the reaction from artists and the community, Graves says she is already looking forward to planning next year’s event.
“I knew that the exhibition would be powerful, but I don’t think I realized until the night of the exhibition how needed the exhibition was.”
To hear from some of the artists who were featured in the exhibition, click here.