Wednesday, August 18, 2004

A new picture of mental illness
Raleigh News-Observer story reprinted at the NAMI web site - "The concept of art as therapy is hardly new, but for the first time, the N.C. Museum of Art has partnered with the UNC Department of Psychiatry's Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program to promote the work of patient-artists. In the process, the artwork helps dissolve misconceptions about mental illness, museum officials say. The exhibit, 'Brushes with Life -- Art, Artists and Mental Illness,' features 40 works by 19 artists, most of whom have schizophrenia or mood disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression or substance abuse problems. All of the artists are inpatients or outpatients at UNC or are members of a Carrboro clubhouse for people with mental illness..."