Edge Center Gallery in Bigfork Minnesota is
presenting the exhibition “What’s Left: Lives Touched by Suicide” from
September 29 to October 29. Even in such a sparsely populated area, there
are few Edge of the Wilderness residents who are not affected in some way by
the sorrow related to suicide.This
exhibit is a traveling exhibit with a goal of reducing the stigma
surrounding suicide and mental illness and raising awareness about mental
health recovery and suicide prevention. The exhibit will be on display
September 29 until October 29. The opening Reception is September
30 from 5PM to 7PM. The Gallery hours are from 10AM to 4PM on Thursday,
Fridays, and Saturdays and during theater performances.
It
has been shown at MacRostie Gallery in Grand Rapids ,
Red Lake
Nation College ,
Hibbing Community
College , American Indian Community Housing Organization in Duluth , Greenway High School in Coleraine, Rochester Civic Theater,
and Watermark Art
Center in Bemidji . It will continue on to Park
Rapids, Minnesota , Owatonna ,
and Bethlehem Lutheran
Churches in Minneapolis
and Minnetonka .
TheEdge Center is possibly the closest place for
you to experience this powerful, moving, and healing multimedia exhibit.
The
Suicide
and mental illness are major health problems that affect everyone. The topic is
often viewed as taboo, and family members left behind can feel stigmatized and
unable to talk openly about their experience and grief. What’s Left
provides a space for participating artists and the broader community to reflect
on the impact of suicide and mental illness and explore the use of artistic
expression in the process of grieving, healing, and expressing hope.
The
project originated with Grand Rapids ,
Minnesota , resident John Bauer
who lost his daughter Megan to suicide in 2013. Bauer’s experience in the
aftermath of his family’s tragedy is what sparked the idea for an art exhibit
as a way to encourage community conversation.“Whether
on the phone or on the street, most people just didn’t know what to say to me,”
said Bauer. “How could they if they haven’t been through something so
horrific. To develop a vocabulary for talking about suicide, we have to be able
to talk about mental illness as well. Not in whispers or disrespectful
laughter.
We need a culture shift where we all take responsibility for addressing the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness. That burden should not be on me and my family alone, nor should it fall to other families who have come before or after us.”
Over 45
of Minnesota ’s
finest artists working in painting, poetry, sculpture, graffiti, glass, fiber,
photography, and more have contributed artwork to the project. Audience members
of What’s Left will also have the chance to listen to an interactive
audio installation of stories from survivors.
What’s
Left is a traveling exhibit with a goal of
reducing the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness and raising
awareness about mental health recovery and suicide prevention. The exhibit is
designed to be displayed in a wide variety of settings including community
centers, art galleries, schools, and libraries and is available to travel to
communities across the state through 2018. The Edge Center Gallery is
working with the Bigfork
School to increase
awareness of suicide prevention even in such a small rural community.
This
activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead
Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State
Legislature’s general and arts and cultural heritage funds. Additional funding
is provided by the Blandin Foundation, Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation,
Miller-Dwan Foundation, Northland Foundation, Northern Itasca Electric Company
Round-Up Grant and many private donors.
The Edge Center is next to the Bigfork School .
The Gallery hours are from 10AM to 4PM on Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays
and during theater performances. The exhibit “WHAT’S LEFT: LIVES TOUCHED BY SUICIDE” is in the Edge Center
Gallery, next to the Bigfork
School , from September 29 to October 29. The Opening Reception is Friday, September 30 from
5-7 pm.
Amazing post!! Seriously loved to stop by your blog. It reminded of my visit to a great exhibition at one of Chicago event space where got to see amazing and incredible work. Really feeling glad to see such great work there.
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