Art exhibit celebrates Feast of Saint Dymphna

Friday, May. 30, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY — In observance of the feast of St. Dymphna, patron saint of individuals with a mental illness, the Diocese of Salt Lake City Commission on Disabilities, partnering with Art Access, presented an exhibit featuring artists with mental illness and their family members.

The exhibit, which runs until June 14, is free and open to the public at the Magdalene Religious Goods and Coffee Grotto store in Salt Lake City.

“The goal of the exhibit is to present the gifts that these individuals bring to our community in an effort to combat the stigma that often plagues individuals with mental illness as violent and a detriment to society,” reads a statement about the exhibit.

Jacque Smithe, owner of the Magdalene Religious Goods, and also a member of the disabilities commission, said she is very pleased and happy to be able to host the exhibit.

“We wanted to bring the community in; the disabilities commission’s mission is to take away any barriers that prevent people from accessing church services, etc.,” said Smithe. “That is easy to accomplish for people with physical disabilities; we can put in ramps or larger doors, but with people with mental illness it’s a little less visible and their biggest barrier is stigma, … not being able to feel accepted in the congregation for fear of being judged.”

The exhibit features more than 10 artists with a mental illness, and other artists who are part of the Utah Cultural Alliance through the Art Access, a program that helps artists with various disabilities.

“When the mental illness is treated it’s a very small part of who they are; it is like when you have brown eyes or brown hair,” said Smithe. “We are hoping that people will stop defining the mentally ill by their mental illness.”

By observing the work that the artists created, people can find that each piece reveals personal stories and experiences, and the viewers can learn about persons with mental illnesses, the stigma they face, and the many roads for wellness and recovery.

One of the artists participating in the exhibit is Oscar G. Amaya, a local Latino welder.

Among the pieces that Amaya is exhibiting is “El Oso” (“The Bear”), which is made of four metal plaques welded, designed, cut and carved by hand. Another is called “The Quijote.”

“All the pieces  have a message. … ‘The Quijote,’ for example, talks about the seven character defects that every human being has, the internal struggle that the human being goes through,” said Amaya, who is bipolar and is a member of  the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

In addition to wanting to share his story through his art, Amaya said that his interest in participating in the exhibit had two main objectives.

“The first is to be able to give information to people through my art, and the second is for the pleasure of knowing that even when we have any type of condition, we can find and feel comfortable through the art,” said Amaya.  “It is just a matter of acceptance, find treatment and therapy and then make an effort … We have an internal struggle but it is in us to be okay and be responsible for what we do.”

All the art pieces in the exhibit are available for sale; 70 percent of the money goes to the artist and 30 percent goes to Art Access, which supports artists with disabilities. 

The exhibit is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Magdalene Religious Goods and Coffee Grotto at 2030 South 900 East, Salt Lake City.