BCPA Piece of Mind Art Exhibition 2016
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): Piece of Mind (British Columbia Psychological Association, Unpublished)
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2016
The British Columbia Psychological Association hosted the Piece of Mind art exhibit in the Vancouver Public Library Moat Art Gallery, at 350 West Georgia Street, from April 30 to May 19 with one central theme based on a question: “What does good psychological health mean to you?” The gala opening night for the exhibition was on May 3 with entrance open for everyone including the general public. Food and drink were provided for the attendees.
Attendees were able to talk with or hear from psychologists, interact with artists, watch and listen to a panel discussion between artists and psychologists on meaning and inspiration, and the nature of diversity and mental health.
The event drew in a large of number of participants with lively questions for the psychologists and artists from one another, and the public that attended the event. Many conversations were ongoing during and after the event with members of the general public taking part in the major conversations on diversity and psychological health.
Piece of Mind was an opportunity for three communities to come together and bring about more understanding from the sharing of expertise and perspectives. The professional psychological community through the BCPA bringing the expertise about psychology and psychological health, and diversity. The artistic community through professional artists sharing their productions to express their individual interpretations of psychological health and diversity. The general public, and the Vancouver Public Library staff, able to participate and learn from, and even contribute to, the dialogue on psychological health and diversity – often with a piercing insight into psychological health.
When asked about psychological health, diversity, and their personal definitions of them, members of these communities expressed unique perspectives. For instance, Dr. Patrick Meyers said, “To me, psychological health is being able to have a sense of balance between the ups and downs of life, not getting too overly exuberant with the ups that happen in your life and not getting too despairing an hopeless with the downs in life. Somehow having the tools to find this middle path between the lead what might be referred to as a fulfilling life,” and described diversity in psychological health by saying, “Every single client that comes into my office. Although, they may have a diagnosis of perhaps anxiety or depression or something like this. Every person’s way into anxiety is different and every person’s way out of anxiety is different…It is our differences that make us stronger, not our similarities.”
A full-time private practice psychologist and presenter at the exhibition, Dr. Bali Sohi, said, “I think it’s very nice for people to know that every area, especially in the creative areas, that there’s so much emotion and so many other aspects of human beings. What we show each other as human beings, that it’s nice if as psychologists we can help them understand what it’s about, just sort of let them know all of these normal good coping, good artistic creative endeavours. There’s so many ways to express yourself.”
Even outside of the professional realm, the volunteers and interns for the British Columbia Psychological Association (BCPA) had some insights and commentaries on diversity and psychological health. Yuvraj, marketing intern for the BCPA, said, “Mental health is important because it helps us get through our day to day life, and mental stability promotes a healthier life. Diversity in mental health is important because different perspectives matter and even if you come from different cultures, different backgrounds, and different religions, mental health is something we should strive toward together.”
These expressed opinions show a general sense of the importance of the nuance and subtle nature of human beings in the expression of their humanity, especially with the betterment of mental and psychological health through diversity and creative endeavours. Psychological health can be achieved through creative expression, and diversity of perspectives might be an important aspect of having mental wellbeing.
These sentiments extended to the artistic community as well with a practical statement by one artist. Bob Craig, a Western Canadian artist, said, “I am bipolar. And my medication gives me enough of a screen to work with everybody else. I think it’s a matter of participation every day with what is going on, and if you get unhappy or disturbed. You don’t pay attention to what’s going on. I think the idea is to start fresh every day.”
Lori Goldberg, a profession artist, said, “It means being willing to look at stuff about you that might be limiting you, and seeking support via professionals that might support you on your journey to being self-realized.” Another artist, Dorothy Doherty, said, “I think we’re always looking for balance…It is to be in the best possible state of mind and to be able to respond to the challenges that we meet on a day to day basis with integrity. In order to do that, we need to be well-rested, have the proper amount of exercise, and even be well-fed.”
There weren’t psychologists on the one side and artists on the other, too, to discuss the minutiae of psychological health and diversity. The attendees were numerous. The demographics were mixed, and reflected this. James Kemp is an artist, art teacher, and someone with psychological training and background.
He said, “Being aware of your current state, but not being so fixated on having to be aware of your current state of mind. Importance of diversity in psychological health is, I think of it as, different approaches to helping yourself. That there’s always resilience in plant populations when there’s more diverse seed species, so that they can be more resistant to viruses that come in.”
With respect to the individuals within the periphery of the event, but performing vital roles for the smooth operations of the event were the librarians, and associated staff, of the Vancouver Public Library that had their own insights on psychological health.
Barbara, a librarian with the Vancouver Public Library, said, “Psychological health, to me – wow – it means generally healthy way and outlook of relating to the world, and in doing that getting positive relations and building positive relationships with others as well.”
Barbara’s co-worker, Deanna, a library technician, said, “Psychological health. Well, being healthy and happy, and being able to feel emotions ion the proper manner. So, being sad when things are sad, upset when things are upsetting, as opposed to mixing that up.”
In all, the tremendous breadth of personal insights coming from a broad range of experience. All of the registered psychologists, volunteers and interns for the BCPA, professional artists, and the Vancouver Public Library staff, and the general public brought a lot to the discussions at the 2016 Piece of Mind art exhibition.
Meyers concluded, “It was a fun event. It was a thought provoking event. We had a lot of different people here, who see the art in different ways. They all saw the presentation in different ways. It really started to develop a conversation about mental health, about art, about psychology, about all of these different things, which is exactly what the purpose of this was.”
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