The Art of Humanity: Toby Allen`s “Real Monsters”
Transcription
The Art of Humanity: Toby Allen`s “Real Monsters”
Artist Toby Allen intended to give mental illnesses some substance and make them appear more manageable as physical entities. “The project originated from imagining my own anxieties as monsters and finding it to be a cathartic and healing process to draw them,” Allen told The Huffington Post. “It made them feel weaker and I was able to look at my own anxiety in a comical way.” The Art of Humanity: Toby Allen’s “Real Monsters” To see all of Tony Allen’s “Real Monsters” please visit http://zestydoesthings.tumblr.com/ All artwork Tony Allen C 2014 Disclaimer: The artwork is not at all intended to make light of these conditions but instead is intended to give these intangible mental illnesses some substance and make them appear more manageable as physical entities What do you hope your art work does for others who are struggling with these "monsters?” I hope the work reminds people struggling with their own “monsters” that they are not alone in what they are going through and that some of these illnesses can be beaten or at least managed. I want people to laugh and smile when they see my work and feel a little less negative about themselves or their condition. I also hope to draw attention to mental illnesses that often get ignored or aren’t taken seriously. Anxiety disorder is a very good example, the condition often being seen as trivial or not serious enough in my personal experience. I want to raise awareness of how damaging these illnesses can be and how much of a burden they can be to those who suffer from them. NAMI Multnomah 524 NE 52nd Avenue Portland, OR 97213 Help Line (503) 228-5692 www.namimultnomah.org Board of Directors Terri Pelham, President Melissa Gonzales McNeal, VP Barbara Besand, Treasurer Bud Manley, Secretary Cliff Bacigalupi, At-Large Derald Walker, At-Large Sylvia Zingeser, At-Large Patricia Day TenEyck Summer 2015 Executive Director Volume 2 Issue 3 NAMI Multnomah Begins the Emergency Department Diversion & Resource Navigation Program And Introducing: Sofia Jasani NAMI Multnomah’s New Education Programs Coordinator Sofia Jasani brings her passion for helping others enhance their mental health and wellness to her role as Education Programs Coordinator at NAMI Multnomah. Sofia has a B.A. in Psychology and an M.S. in Education, with a dual certificate in General and Special Education. She has two years of experience as a graduate research assistant in the department of Clinical Psychology at Columbia University, and four years of experience teaching Special Education in the South Bronx as a 2006 Teach for America Corps Member. As a student at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD, Sofia studied abroad three times; she studied Law and Politics in London, Non-Profit Management and Social Policy in South Africa, and volunteered for a semester at Shishu Bhavan, Mother Theresa’s orphanage in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Sofia believes in promoting a holistic approach to both physical and mental wellness, and as such has been teaching yoga and meditation since 2010. Sofia is inspired by NAMI’s mission, and hopes to expand outreach and services for underrepresented populations, including: people of color, the LGBTQ community, and at-risk youth for whom early intervention could change the course of their lives. Sofia is new to Portland, and loves the myriad opportunities for outdoor adventures and plethora of vegan food. NAMI Multnomah is in the process of hiring two staff to work in the Emergency Department Diversion & Resource Navigation Program. This new program is designed to ensure that people living with mental health conditions (“peers”) and their families or other supporters gain knowledge and understanding of mental health-related topics including mental health conditions, the system of care, various treatment options, and community-based resources and services. The Family Partner & Resource Navigator will assist peers and/or their families to recognize and utilize their strengths and natural supports, to develop safety and recovery plans, overcome barriers to accessing care, and when necessary, support them in finding basic needs, such as housing, transportation, vouchers, and food assistance. The Family Partner & Resource Navigators will work approximately half-time with the families of youth under the age of 18 who have accessed Legacy Emanuel’s Emergency Department because of a mental health crisis. The other half of their time will be spent partnering with peers of any age and their families/friends through appointments at NAMI Multnomah. “We are all very excited to bring back the Navigator Program,” said Executive Director Patricia Day TenEyck. “Almost from my first day at NAMI Multnomah I have heard how wonderful the program was and how much it has been missed. Pairing our vision for the Navigators with the Emergency Department Diversion Program’s Peer Support Specialists seemed like the perfect fit for both programs.” The Family Partner & Resource Navigators will work in concert with our Help Line. Calling (503) 228-5692 will always be the first step. If we can assist you in 15 or 20 minutes, the staff and volunteers answering the phone will work with you. If you have multiple questions and require more in-depth assistance, the Help Line staff will help you to make an appointment to come in and meet with a Navigator for a one-on-one appointment. The Family Partners & Resource Navigators should be on board and ready to begin working with peers and their families by the middle of September. Watch your inbox for an announcement from us saying the Navigators are open for business! Funding for this program and the two new staff positions comes from the Oregon Community Foundation, the Autzen Foundation and Multnomah County Mental Health and Addiction Services. Meet our new Navigators on Page 7! News & Opportunities NAMI Multnomah Staff members, Sofia Jasani and Sara Zusman at Pioneer Courthouse Square for the Flowers of Van Gogh Flower Sale! Fall 2015 NAMI Class Schedules All NAMI classes are FREE All classes require pre-registration. Please call our Resource Line for more information, or to register – (503) 228-5692. Family to Family – 12 weeks Sept. 5 – Nov. 21 Saturday mornings - NE Portland | 9:30am – 12:00pm Sept. 2 – Nov. 18 Wednesday evenings - SE Portland/Woodstock |6:00pm – 8:30pm Peer to Peer Classes – 10 weeks A recovery, education course open to individuals living with a serious mental illness. Sept. 12 – Nov. 14 Saturday mornings - NE Portland 10:00am – 12:00pm 2015 Teacher and Presenter Training Classes Offered by NAMI Oregon NAMI Multnomah is ALWAYS looking for new teachers, support group facilitators and speakers, so if you are interested in volunteering to do either of these things, please contact us NOW! (503) 228-5692. Connection Support Group Facilitator Training September 26 & 27, 2015 Days Inn Portland South 9717 SE Sunnyside Road, Clackamas, OR 97015 (I-205 & Sunnyside Road) Training full--applications being accepted for a waiting list Family-to-Family Teacher Training October 23-25, 2015 Comfort Inn & Suites 7640 SW Warms Springs St. Tualatin, OR, 97062 Applications due by Friday, Oct. 9 Basics Teacher Training November 6-8, 2015 Comfort Inn & Suites 7640 SW Warms Springs St. Tualatin, OR, 97062 Applications due by Friday, Oct. 23 Peer Support Specialists Training October 19-23 (Class is full) January 25 – 29, 2016 NAMI Multnomah Support Groups All NAMI support groups are FREE No pre-registration required. NAMI Connection Support Groups: Recovery and support by and for people living with mental illness Tuesdays | 11:00am – 12:30pm Luke-Dorf, 1952 SE 122nd Ave. Tuesdays | 2:00pm – 3:30pm Macdonald Center, Meditation Room 605 NW Couch Wednesdays | 4:00pm – 5:30pm Multnomah County East, 600 NE 8th, Gresham Thursdays | 5:30pm – 7:00pm Lifeworks NW, 3716 NE MLK Jr. Blvd. Saturdays | 3:30pm – 5:00pm Providence Building B, 5228 NE Hoyt Drop-In Family Support Groups: For families of adults with mental illness Mondays | 6:00pm – 7:30pm NAMI Multnomah, 524 NE 52nd, Portland 2nd and 4th Thursdays | 6:30pm – 8:00pm St. Henry Catholic Church (in the St. Henry Parish school building, Rm. 7) 346 NW First Ave., Gresham Jennifer Pepin, Artist and raffle winner Moya Lehman Beyond the Clouds, There are Stars Photos from the Starry Night Reception at the J. Pepin Art Gallery and the Flowers of Van Gogh Flower Sale! Both events were a BLAST!! A Special Thank You to Event Sponsors Portland Police Bureau Cascadia Behavioral Health Meet Our Two New Navigators! Prema Prabhakar comes to NAMI with a deep appreciation for the integrity and resiliency of families navigating the complex mental health system. Prema is grateful to be able to support the mental and emotional health of families and individuals in the new role of Family Partner/Resource Navigator. She believes in the power of individual authenticity and creativity to building a meaningful life in a difficult world. Don’t forget to buy your tickets today! Saturday, September 12, 2015 DoubleTree by Hilton Portland Prema grew up in New Jersey and received her B.A. from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. She then moved westward to California receiving both her M.A. and PhD. in Literature and Critical Theory from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her dissertation project examined the way in which female bodies, art, and the mental health system have created new methods of witnessing for one another’s stories. During this period of study, Prema also began working at Crisis Support Services in Oakland, a phone and text line that supports the National Lifeline. It was while working here that she formed a deep commitment to suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Prema also has ten years of teaching experience in composition and creative writing. While in Portland, she has worked as an advocate at Raphael House and the Portland Women’s Crisis Line. She loves to talk about books, cats, art, the history of mental health and fashion! Savannah Paz brings a history of advocacy for mental health To benefit NAMI Clackamas County will feature dinner and a live and silent auction. For more information, or to purchase tickets call 503-344-5050 or email [email protected]. awareness and fighting mental health stigma to her new role as ED Family Partner/ Resource Navigator at NAMI Multnomah. Savannah began her journey in higher education at Portland Community College where she was involved in student leadership and worked as a peer advocate at the Women’s Resource Center. Health equity and access to resources has always been an important issue to Savannah and her values. This led her to participate in a fellowship with the Oregon Latino Health Coalition promoting Cover All Kids HB 3517 during her final term of college. Savannah recently graduated from Portland State University where she earned her B.A. in Community Development with an emphasis on Social Change. Savannah currently serves as Vice Chair for Trillium Family Services board of trustees. She began as one of their clients and has since evolved into one of their most vocal advocates. During her time overcoming her own mental health barriers, Savannah discovered the power of voice. She is committed to using her voice to pursue positive community outcomes and social justice by working in partnership within communities. Savannah is honored to have the opportunity to contribute to NAMI’s mission to improve the quality of life for people with mental illness and their families through support, education and advocacy. Savannah is a native to Portland where she enjoys life with her partner and two beautiful sons. Savannah Paz and her lovely family! Save the Date FolkTime's Annual Fundraising Luncheon HARVEST at Huber's October 25, 2015 11am-1pm at Huber's Café 411 SW 3rd Ave, For more information, please contact Eden Leonard at [email protected]
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