Open letter for assistance in art
This is an open letter-
meaning that some of you will have seen this on LJ, or in your e-mail, and that this may be linked and forwarded as much as you like. In fact, please do- I would like all the help I can get. Craigslist, pointlesswasteoftime, trafficked blogs and forums... I have a small foothold on the internet, and don't frequent these places. If you'd post this request there for me, with or without your own introduction, I'd be very grateful.
My name is Stephanie, and I'm an art student. I've gotten an assignment today to create a work of art on an issue or cause I feel strongly about, to be made out of ready-made items.
I've chosen to create a mobile-and-pile arrangement, and my cause is the lack of adequate and/or easily-available care for the mentally ill in this country. I know that there are problems with this the world over, but I'm focusing on this country, my experiences, and the experiences of people I know.
This is what I'm asking for from you, if you want to help me:
Stories of what it's like living with mental illness, your own, a family member's, or a friend's. Stories of what has been done to self-medicate, stories of frustration with legal, medical help. Stories of not being able to GET help, from having no insurance or from not being believed. Stories of getting good help, if you have them. Stories of attempted treatment, successful and not, self-treated or not, doctors or not. Stories of fighting your way through bureaucracy.
Stories of daily life with this. These stories should be anonymous, and will not be edited.
Stuff like empty liquor bottles, hospital ID bracelets, empty prescription bottles (with or without labels), and anything you personally may have used to self-medicate- a CD, pillow, stuffed animal, things of questionable legality... take a picture if you don't want to send the actual item.
Send stories to travellyr @ gmail . com (remove spaces). Send a notice to travellyr @ gmail . com for an address to send any items to.
Thank you,
~Stephanie
meaning that some of you will have seen this on LJ, or in your e-mail, and that this may be linked and forwarded as much as you like. In fact, please do- I would like all the help I can get. Craigslist, pointlesswasteoftime, trafficked blogs and forums... I have a small foothold on the internet, and don't frequent these places. If you'd post this request there for me, with or without your own introduction, I'd be very grateful.
My name is Stephanie, and I'm an art student. I've gotten an assignment today to create a work of art on an issue or cause I feel strongly about, to be made out of ready-made items.
I've chosen to create a mobile-and-pile arrangement, and my cause is the lack of adequate and/or easily-available care for the mentally ill in this country. I know that there are problems with this the world over, but I'm focusing on this country, my experiences, and the experiences of people I know.
This is what I'm asking for from you, if you want to help me:
Stories of what it's like living with mental illness, your own, a family member's, or a friend's. Stories of what has been done to self-medicate, stories of frustration with legal, medical help. Stories of not being able to GET help, from having no insurance or from not being believed. Stories of getting good help, if you have them. Stories of attempted treatment, successful and not, self-treated or not, doctors or not. Stories of fighting your way through bureaucracy.
Stories of daily life with this. These stories should be anonymous, and will not be edited.
Stuff like empty liquor bottles, hospital ID bracelets, empty prescription bottles (with or without labels), and anything you personally may have used to self-medicate- a CD, pillow, stuffed animal, things of questionable legality... take a picture if you don't want to send the actual item.
Send stories to travellyr @ gmail . com (remove spaces). Send a notice to travellyr @ gmail . com for an address to send any items to.
Thank you,
~Stephanie