A fascinating look at the connection between mental illness and visual art, this collaboration between Workman Arts and the Art Gallery of Ontario celebrates Workman’s 25th anniversary with a Mad Couture Catwalk and a one-day symposium this weekend.

Workman Arts partners with CAMH to help artists with mental health and addiction issues express themselves and nurture their talent. As well, they promote greater understanding of these issues through the exhibition and expression of work by those they affect most.

MAD COUTURE CATWALK

Friday, April 13th, 7-10 pm at the AGO-Weston Family Learning Centre

The show will feature 33 wearable pieces from 11 Workman artists, curated by Elena Soni. The works all express psychological struggles. 

EXCEPTIONAL MINDS: THE CONVERGENCE OF ART AND MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE 21st CENTURY

Saturday, April 14th, 9:30 am-5:30 pm at the AGO Baillie Court

Artists and cultural theorists will explore how artists with mental illness benefit society as a whole. Keynote speaker Kay Redfield Jameson, Ph. D., will examine the elevated rates of bipolar disorder and depression among artists and writers.

Tickets for both events can be purchased at the AGO Box Office by phone at 416-979-6608 or online.

Additional limited sliding scale tickets are available by calling Workman Arts at 416-583-4339.

~ Haley Cullingham | Bedlam by Lisa Walters, photo by David Sweeney