UCSF School of Nursing

Today, we took our Unheard Voices documentary to the UCSF School of Nursing to screen the video in front of 30-40 nurses (in training). The film was well-received, and after the video they asked a lot of relevant questions. This was a good sign because in the future many of these nurses will come across patients who suffer from mental illness. My hope is that through this film they would see these people not just through the lens their medical profession but see them as fellow human beings who happen to live with mental illness. Hopefully future health care providers will remember to treat their patients with care and dignity that everyone is entitled to.

Screening at San Jose State University

It's been awhile since I last posted. Our project has evolved quite a bit during the last year. We are no longer filming. But our story continues to be heard. We've had multiple screenings in the past couple of years at various venues. Today at San Jose State University, the film is screening in front of future mental health workers (i.e. social work students). Unfortunately, I am unable to attend the event (as I am spending time with family in the East Coast) but the real "stars" of the documentary will be at hand to meet the students and talk about their filmmaking experience with the audience. Here is a nice little blurb about the event on the San Jose State University blog.

AS WE LIVE IT--Comes to an End

"AS WE LIVE IT" exhibit came to an end a couple of weeks ago (9/9/11). Today, I went to San Francisco Arts Commission to pick up the remainder of the artwork submitted by our clients. I met up with Amy Le Duc, Gallery Manager and organizer of the exhibit. She told me that this exhibit was the most successful exhibit of its kind in City Hall in over 6 years. Commercially speaking as well.

The boost in recognition & sales peaked after an article by San Francisco Chronicle featuring one of the artists. It was good to know that the artists who sold their work would get 75% of the proceeds. I'm not sure where the rest of the money goes (certainly not to the clinics, but that's okay). I think it is a fair deal for the artists. Thanks again to SF Arts Commission and to Heidi Swillinger of SF Study Center for organizing this exhibit.

Aside from monetary gain by some of our artists, there were so many more intangible benefits generated by this exhibit toward the artists and to the community mental health system in San Francisco. The following "profits" come to mind:

self-expression,
self-assertion,
meaning,
grieving,
celebration,
empowerment,
pride,
beauty,
community-building,
myth busting,
myth making,
inspiration for others,
defiance,
exploration of different ideas,
sharing of perspectives,
seeing old things in new ways,
joy-making,
collaboration,
developing skills,
smashing stereotypes,
provoking,
evoking,
educating,
fun,
and many more.

Opening Reception--City Hall

The opening reception of "As We Live It" exhibit which took place last Wednesday (June 8th) at City Hall, sponsored by San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Study Center, featured incredible art work created and submitted by some 30 plus artists from all across San Francisco's community behavioral health clinics. While the event was billed as highlighting the works of "people in treatment", the level of artistry and sophistication represented by the pieces was truly astounding.

I was simultaneously flattered and humbled that our "unheard voices" film--which is to be played in a continuous loop throughout the duration of the exhibit which runs through September 9th-- helped to inspire this exhibit.

Reception is Tomorrow!

The opening reception for As We Live It exhibit at City Hall is tomorrow.

Hope to see a lot of people in support of the 30+ artists whose works will be exhibited at City Hall. This is a big event for many of the consumers who have taken the courage to be vulnerable by exposing their art & lives to the public. For some, this is their first time in the limelight...which can be incredibly stressful. I'm grateful for their willingness and generosity to share their work with the world. Thanks also to San Francisco Arts Commission, Community Behavioral Health Services, and the San Francisco Study Center.

Unheard Voices to be Screening at San Francisco City Hall

Unheard Voices will be screening at City Hall as part of an upcoming exhibit sponsored by San Francisco Arts Commission and San Francisco Study Center. The exhibit, As We Live It, is a juried exhibition that features works made by mental health consumers of San Francisco's Community Behavioral Health Services.

The gallery website reads: "As We Live It celebrates the vast and deep talents of artists who use their visual art practice as one form of articulating their identities in a way that words cannot."

Opening reception: Wednesday, June 8, 2011 5:30-7:30
Exhibition dates: June 8 – September 9, 2011
Location: SF City Hall, ground floor, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 8 pm

Stomp Out Stigma--Nice Turnout at San Francisco State University

The screening at San Francisco State University's "Stomp Out Stigma" presentation had some glitches in the beginning, mostly of a technical nature, but once the film got started, we were off and rolling.

We had a larger turnout than expected. I suppose some of the students came in to get extra credit points from their instructors. The event seems to have been well advertized as there were ads spread out all over the campus when we arrived.

I felt lots of energy in the room. The audience asked some good questions related to the documentary and mental-illness--even prior to the screening. This was while I was "stalling" and attempting to entertain the audience while the technical crew were fixing up the glitches with the projector and sound equipment.

The three clients who came with me to participate in the panel discussion & Q/A after the screening were terrific. They were a bit nervous in the beginning but, as usual, spoke eloquently about their experiences with mental illness and what they hoped to achieve through their films. One of the clients said to me, afterwards, that a student approached her and thanked for sharing. This student was also struggling with mental illness. The client noted how glad she was to be a part of this panel and be able to "make a difference, even to one individual."

My main message that evening was that prejudice, not mental illness, is the main problem in our society. We made this video project to fight stigma against mental illness using creativity as a weapon.

Thanks to ACTIVE MINDS and Counseling/Psychological Services of San Francisco State University for putting this event together.