On Wednesday, April 3, I attended the opening of an art show presented by the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre called Looking Inward Looking Outward. The show consisted of a variety of works from sculptures to paintings to the written word all created by clients and staff associated with Mental Health and Addictions.
I was blown away by all that I saw, and I was in awe of the huge amount of talent shown by folks whom many people might view as outside the norm of society.
Looking at all that surrounded me, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride. Here are people dealing with mental illnesses who have abilities that surpass any label that others may associate with them. The pride I felt was theirs. The work spoke volumes. To me it said, "Here we are, and this is how amazing we are."
Hugh Macaulay, vice president of Arrowhead Clubhouse Society, spoke about how folks with mental illnesses who are on their own much of the time still use that time to create such beauty. I cried, remembering my times on my own, feeling lost, with really nowhere else to be except a few gathering spots for a few hours on certain days of the week.
I was also invited to speak, and I thanked Macaulay for his powerful words. I told him how they brought tears of understanding to my eyes. I then read a piece from my book, I Am A Man Who Cries, called "The One Day Thesis." In it, I explain what we, who have disabilities or mental illnesses, go through on a daily basis. I ask the question to those outside of our collective: "What if you woke up one day and this was you?"
The evening then proceeded with snacks and mingling and conversation and tea, punch and coffee. It was a great time with people meeting and chatting and admiring.
Congratulations to everyone who submitted works. You are all heroes. One artist I spoke with said that for years she hid who she was and then finally decided this is who she was and she was proud to share who she was, with others. As my friend David Roche would say, "We are all pioneers."
I was proud to be there. I am proud to be me.
