People familiar with psychiatric illnesses understand the painful loss of purpose and self-esteem which often accompany these disorders. The arts can heal some of these wounds, providing individuals who struggle with these disabling illnesses hope, purpose, and a sense of identity. Self-expression through art—whether it be in the form of painting, writing poetry or short stories, playing a musical instrument or composing a piece of music, or writing, producing, or playing a role in a dramatic production—is a purposeful and optimistic activity.

Art, whether it be fine art or art therapy, heals some of the personal wounds brought about by mental ill health. It is a purposeful and optimistic activity. The artists plan exhibits, look forward to upcoming shows, grow and develop their artistic talents. The artists receive positive feedback, field questions about their art, and also make sales or win commissions. Writers, on the other hand, find vindication in seeing their work published in an attractive and reputable journal.

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Joining together with fellow artists, writers, musicians, and thespians in a focus on creative activity has healing power, too, and helps individuals struggling with mental illness overcome the social isolation that their illness often imparts. The community and network of support reaches far beyond the walls of the studio, resulting in long-lasting friendships and collaborative relationships. We have received much positive feedback from parents, siblings, spouses, friends, and the artists themselves about how important Awakenings has been in participants' lives.

Long before our association with the Theater for Mental Health (TMH),in 2003 Awakenings attended a workshop with The Second City in Chicago. Second City's Community Outreach director, Dionna Griffin, led us through exercises called "Zip, Zap, Zop," "The Hitchhiker," mirroring, and a series of scenes called "Wheres." The event promoted team building and a great time was had by all.

Participants in The Awakenings Project plan exhibits or performances, prepare for upcoming events, and grow and develop their artistic talents. The artists receive positive feedback, field questions about their art, and also make sales or win commissions. Writers find satisfaction in seeing their work published in Awakenings' attractive and reputable journal, The Awakenings Review.

A core group of volunteers puts in many hours and much effort to make each exhibit, every journal, all the music, poetry readings and any plays we produce as professional and rewarding as possible.

The Awakenings Project held four annual dinners from 2003 through 2006, made possible by charitable contributions from AstraZeneca. During those celebratory evenings, Awakenings artists donated pieces of their artwork to many local area hospitals and mental health centers. The guests experienced a whole range of arts activities, with a display of visual arts, musicians and poets sharing their gifts, even brief monologues or scenes from plays were acted out by actors from the Theater for Mental Health in 2006.

• April 24, 2003 - AstraZeneca sponsored dinner - donated Awakenings Artwork to local area hospitals/mental health centers.
• April 22, 2004 - 2nd Annual AstraZeneca dinner - again donated Awakenings Artwork to local area hospitals/mental health centers.
• April 21, 2005 -- 3rd annual dinner to donate artwork to local hospitals, sponsored by a chairtable contribution from AstraZeneca.  St. Isaac Jogues donated scholarships in: Art, Drama, Music and Literature, which were given out at the dinner. NAMI-DuPage and Good Samaritan Hospital gave "Trish Evers Memorial Scholarships" to four additional people.
• May 18, 2006 -- 4th annual reception with AstraZeneca. It was a Celebration of all the arts, with multi-talented Awakenings musicians, poets, writers and actors reading and performing.
  

Persons with severe mental illnesses often experience stigma and discrimination by a society that views mental ill health in a different light than physical ill health. Caricature portrayals of people with mental illnesses are heavily biased toward bizarre or violent behavior (which is actually no more prevalent than in the general public). We believe the understanding and acceptance of people with mental ill health can be advanced through projects like Awakenings. Our exhibits, writings, performances, and community activities make a statement that persons with mental illness are highly capable and talented people wishing to contribute positively to society. Social researchers agree that gaining or regaining power over our lives is essential to overcoming stigma and achieving our greatest potential. Art is one mechanism to facilitate empowerment and foster recovery. The personal growth and improvement in socialization skills, confidence, and self-esteem in the Awakenings' participants is phenomenal.

A variety of medical, psychotherapeutic and self-help methods have helped people overcome disabilities related to these illnesses and recover. Despite this advancement, persons with severe mental illnesses still experience stigma and discrimination by a society that views mental ill health in a different light than physical ill health. Therefore, we self-identify, and identify with people with a variety of other disabilities which is why, on July 23, 2005 - We participated in the 2nd Disability Pride Parade in Chicago.

We were also honored to have been invited by Thresholds, the largest provider of community mental health services in the state of Illinois, to participate on October 18, 2005 - by having an information table at Thresholds' Leadership Expo at the Oak Lawn Hilton.

One of the most rewarding things we do as Awakenings artists is helping others, and giving back to the community. For two years, we worked weekly with artists, residents of Wheaton Care Center, to bring out their potential to create sometimes functional and always beautiful pieces of artwork. The photo at right was taken at Wheaton Care Center.

With support from a grant we received in 2008 from Hinsdale Center for the Arts, acting as a regranting agency of the Illinois Arts Council, we were able to expand our Arts in Nursing Homes Project to include both Wheaton Care Center and DuPage County Convalescent Center. The Hinsdale Center for the Arts-a certified local arts agency, an "Established Regional Arts Institution" designated by the Illinois Arts Council, and winner of the 1999 Governor's Award for the Arts- is a not-for-profit organization committed to encouraging and facilitating appreciation of and participation in the arts. We held fabulous, well-attended opening receptions at both WCC and DPCC. The photo at left was taken at the DuPage County Convalescent Center reception, courtesy of Mariel Marte.

Once again, in 2011, we received another grant from Hinsdale Center for the Arts.

Several members of The Awakenings Project are currently leading "Imagery Journaling" at Larkin Center in Elgin, and West Chicago Terrace nursing home. In the past, Awakenings members led art-making groups at Wheaton Care Center and theDuPage Convalescent Center.  The groups were project-oriented, and each member of the group created a functional and beautiful piece of artwork with a little help from Awakenings. All of these programs have been partially supported by a grant from the Community Arts Access Program, which is funded by The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and Hinsdale Center for the Arts.

One of the larger projects we completed was a mural on the psychiatric unit at Good Samaritan Hospital. It took over 20 artists several months to complete. On June 23, 2005, we held a celebration of Awakenings' first mural at Good Samaritan Hospital. A Wonderful Opening Reception was held as part of the Brighter Beginnings in Mental Health Program, sponsored by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. See photo at right.

By Summer of 2007 -- Good Samaritan liked the first mural so well, they invited us back, and many of the same and some new Awakenings artists worked on murals for the geriatric psychiatry unit at Good Samaritan Hospital.These murals were more realistic, and meant to evoke memories in the elderly patients on the unit. There were awnings, porch swings, wildflowers, a diner sign, a tree with all seasons, and a grape arbor. To read an article about the murals, and see Mike Rudis' painting which was donated to the Hospital, see page 4 of the DuPage County Health Pro Newsletter Health Pro newsletter . See photo at left. For completed projects, see photos below.