The Citizen
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Susan Weinrich sits in front of one of her paintings at Auburn Public Theater, where she displayed and spoke about her work last week in collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Weinrich, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, says that her art has helped her cope with the disorder.
Susan Weinrich sits in front of one of her paintings at Auburn Public Theater, where she displayed and spoke about her work last week in collaboration with the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Weinrich, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, says that her art has helped her cope with the disorder.
AUBURN - For many people, drawing and painting are ways to express themselves. For Susan Weinrich, they have been ways to escape.
The New York artist spent years overcoming mental illness, and has been able to recover in large part, she says, due to her art. Weinrich spoke in Auburn last week during a special event at the Auburn Public Theater, where she showed some of her work and talked to attendees about her pieces and her journey.
The event was one of a number of programs organized this month by the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness meant to observe the national Mental Health Month.
Diagnosed while an art student with paranoid schizophrenia in the 1970s, Weinrich was unable to make connections with other people while in the throes of her condition. At the time, a psychiatrist gave her charcoal and paper and asked her to sketch instead of talk as a means of treatment.
Drawing those pieces represented a means of making some of her first personal connections in years, Weinrich said after the event at the APT.
“People need recognition for anything they do,” she said. “It was natural for me to get it out on paper. Then someone had a reaction to something I did that was positive.”
Her paintings and drawings often focus on the human form, sometimes displaying great emotion. She is currently in the midst of completing a series of bold, colorful paintings depicting a human kiss from different perspectives.
Weinrich discussed the paintings at the APT during her discussion with attendees. She said she originally got the idea for the series from a black-and-white photo in the New York Times wedding section.
The kiss, she said, is an example of two people making a deep connection.
“Its significance is not just because it's so passionate. It's an exchange of breath and of life,” Weinrich said.
Local NAMI president Terri Wasilenko said she encouraged NAMI members and family to come and talk with Weinrich, who she described as inspirational.
“We like to try and bring individuals with a mental illness into the community ... to offer hope that recovery is real,” Wasilenko said. “I just wanted people to see that. She is a role model.”
Weinrich said she is happy and willing to give talks and presentations to share her story, though only when she is invited. She doesn't like to market herself too much in an attempt to become pigeonholed, she said.
“I don't want to be the schizophrenic artist. I'm just an artist,” she said.
Weinrich said she also struggles with the stereotype of the “mad artist,” such as Vincent Van Gogh who famously struggled with mental illness and eventually shot himself. One doesn't have to be tortured by emotional or mental demons to be able to be a talented artist.
In fact, who knows what Van Gogh could have created had he been able to recover from his struggles, she said.
“You just have to be invested, be committed, to what you do,” Weinrich said. “My art has informed my art, and my art has informed my life.”
If you go
The local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental
Illness will continue observing Mental Health Month Monday with a film screening at the Auburn Public
Theater. The movie, “A Secret Best Not Kept,” explores a mother's suicide.
The DVD screening will be followed by a panel discussion. The event begins at 6 p.m., and a $5 donation is suggested. All proceeds go to the local NAMI chapter.
Call 255-7443 for more information.
The New York artist spent years overcoming mental illness, and has been able to recover in large part, she says, due to her art. Weinrich spoke in Auburn last week during a special event at the Auburn Public Theater, where she showed some of her work and talked to attendees about her pieces and her journey.
The event was one of a number of programs organized this month by the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness meant to observe the national Mental Health Month.
Diagnosed while an art student with paranoid schizophrenia in the 1970s, Weinrich was unable to make connections with other people while in the throes of her condition. At the time, a psychiatrist gave her charcoal and paper and asked her to sketch instead of talk as a means of treatment.
Drawing those pieces represented a means of making some of her first personal connections in years, Weinrich said after the event at the APT.
“People need recognition for anything they do,” she said. “It was natural for me to get it out on paper. Then someone had a reaction to something I did that was positive.”
Her paintings and drawings often focus on the human form, sometimes displaying great emotion. She is currently in the midst of completing a series of bold, colorful paintings depicting a human kiss from different perspectives.
Weinrich discussed the paintings at the APT during her discussion with attendees. She said she originally got the idea for the series from a black-and-white photo in the New York Times wedding section.
The kiss, she said, is an example of two people making a deep connection.
“Its significance is not just because it's so passionate. It's an exchange of breath and of life,” Weinrich said.
Local NAMI president Terri Wasilenko said she encouraged NAMI members and family to come and talk with Weinrich, who she described as inspirational.
“We like to try and bring individuals with a mental illness into the community ... to offer hope that recovery is real,” Wasilenko said. “I just wanted people to see that. She is a role model.”
Weinrich said she is happy and willing to give talks and presentations to share her story, though only when she is invited. She doesn't like to market herself too much in an attempt to become pigeonholed, she said.
“I don't want to be the schizophrenic artist. I'm just an artist,” she said.
Weinrich said she also struggles with the stereotype of the “mad artist,” such as Vincent Van Gogh who famously struggled with mental illness and eventually shot himself. One doesn't have to be tortured by emotional or mental demons to be able to be a talented artist.
In fact, who knows what Van Gogh could have created had he been able to recover from his struggles, she said.
“You just have to be invested, be committed, to what you do,” Weinrich said. “My art has informed my art, and my art has informed my life.”
If you go
The local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental
Illness will continue observing Mental Health Month Monday with a film screening at the Auburn Public
Theater. The movie, “A Secret Best Not Kept,” explores a mother's suicide.
The DVD screening will be followed by a panel discussion. The event begins at 6 p.m., and a $5 donation is suggested. All proceeds go to the local NAMI chapter.
Call 255-7443 for more information.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.