Perspectives From Within

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Blaine Campbell Photo: Blaine Campbell

Marilyn Olson, Richard Boulet, A Molecule of Perfect" 2021

mixed media detail. Courtesy of the artists and McMullen Gallery.

Perspectives From Within

Artists: Wes Bell, Richard Boulet, Jane Grace, Riisa Gundesen, Brad Necyk & Marilyn Olson

Curated by Dick Averns  

Produced by SITEcPROJECTS, the creative arm of the Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders (OBAD)

Perspectives From Within is a major group exhibition featuring visual artwork critically engaging with mental health. All artworks are based on lived experience of mental illness, with six artists bringing compelling insight into the highs and lows of their circumstances. Depression, anxiety, addiction, self-harm, bipolar disorders, and schizophrenia underpin artworks revealing enhanced personal self-reflection, supporting individual and collective mental wellbeing for audiences and producers alike.

Many artists face struggles in their lives but not all take the step of producing work that actively portrays their inner realities, to their peers, in an external manner. As such, Perspectives From Within is both a literal and metaphorical undertaking, for which the artworks and public programs stand as not just a dynamic process of reflection but a reminder that we are not alone. This approach aligns with the activities of exhibition producers SITE c PROJECTS and OBAD, including free, weekly, peer support groups in the Calgary community for anyone, including family members, who may be impacted by mood disorders.

Curated by Dick Averns, Perspectives From Within features video, painting, textiles, film, sculpture and photography. Artworks are installed to create an immersive installation, using light and form to produce an emotive, labyrinthine experience. The interweaving of artists’ works is indicative of the fact that mental illness can be lonely, but a shared vision for mental health can engage audiences to make a positive impact on the way community wellness is addressed in our world.