About Us
The Healing Power of Creativity
People familiar with mental illnesses understand the loss of purpose and self-esteem which accompany them. The arts can heal some of these wounds, providing people with hope, purpose, and a sense of identity. Self-expression through art—whether it be in the form of painting, writing poetry and short stories, or writing, producing and playwrighting, playing a musical instrument or composing a piece of music—is a purposeful and optimistic activity.
Creativity in literature and art can heal wounds. They afford a person goals and direction. For instance, an Awakenings artist may anticipate upcoming shows, get their work prepared, hang an exhibit, find companionship, grow and develop artistic talents, and make sales or win commissions. It is a purposeful and optimistic activity. The artists plan , look forward to grow and develop their artistic talents. The writer receives critiques, finds a publisher, and most of all gets a sense of satisfaction that his/her work is read and appreciated. This is healing; this is The Awakenings Project.
The Support of Community
When artists, writers, musicians, and thespians join together in a creative activity, the communal association alone has healing power. Fundamentally it helps people overcome rejection and isolation. This reaches far beyond the walls of the studio, or the set of a play; it results in long-lasting friendships and collaborative relationships. Moreover, this relationship morphs into a role in the community. The public appreciates the work of the artist or writer, musician or actor, they in turn develop pride, esteem, and identity. Over the years, we've received accolades from parents, siblings, spouses, friends, and the other artists about how important Awakenings has been for their community.
The Development of Competence
As a natural outcome, The Awakenings Project boosts artistic skills and rewards expertise. Artists learn to exhibit their work competently, writers learn to submit their work professionally; editors and production staff learn to publish a journal, The Awakenings Review; musicians learn to write songs and record music; playwrights learn to organize readings. Also, participants learn financial management, conducting a meeting, and planning and completing government reporting.
A core group of volunteers knows the effort it takes to make sure each exhibit, every journal, all the music, poetry readings, and plays readings are professional.
For instance, The Awakenings Project held four dinners from 2003 through 2006, made possible by charitable contributions from AstraZeneca. Awakenings artists donated artwork to local hospitals and mental health centers. The guests experienced a whole range of arts activities, a display of visual arts, performances by musicians, readings by poets, and monologues or scenes from dramatic works by actors. Everyone and everything was dedicated to competency.
The Discovery of Confidence
People with mental illnesses experience stigma and discrimination by a society that views mental ill health differenty than physical ill health. Caricatures of people with mental illnesses are biased toward bizarre or violent behavior. Acceptance can be advanced through projects like Awakenings, which in turn promotes confidence. Our exhibits, writings, performances, and community activities say that we are capable and want to contribute positively to society. Researchers agree that empowering our lives is essential to overcoming stigma and achieving our potential. Art is one mechanism to facilitate this. Seeing the personal growth in social skills, confidence, and self-esteem in Awakenings' participants is remarkable.
These artists still experience stigma and discrimination by a society that views mental ill health in a different light than physical ill health. So all the way back in 2005 Awakenings asserted their place with people with other disabilities by participating in the 2nd Disability Pride Parade in Chicago. Over the years, we've come out of the mental illness closet, we've grown, and we now carry ourselves with a confidence that displaces stigma.
A History of Giving Back to the Community
One of our greatest rewards is serving others, and contributing to the community. For instance, for several years, we conducted weekly creativity workshops with residents of Wheaton Care nursing home. With support from a grant we received in 2008 from Hinsdale Center for the Arts, we were able to expand our nursing homes project to include DuPage County Convalescent Center.
The Hinsdale Center for the Arts, a certified local arts agency, and an "Established Regional Arts Institution" (unfortunately now defunct) sponsored fabulous, well-attended opening receptions at both WCC and DPCC. Once again, in 2011, we received another grant from now defunct Hinsdale Center for the Arts to do community work.
Several members of The Awakenings Project have lead "Imagery Journaling" at Larkin Center in Elgin, and West Chicago Terrace nursing home. Again, Awakenings members led art-making groups at Wheaton Care Center and the DuPage Convalescent Center. The groups were "project-oriented," with each member creating a functional and beautiful piece of artwork. All of these programs were partially supported by a grant from the Community Arts Access Program, which is funded by The Illinois Arts Council and was re-granted by Hinsdale Center for the Arts.
One of the more interesting projects The Awakenings Project completed was a mural on the psychiatric unit at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Illinois. The work of over 20 artists , it took months to complete. A Wonderful Opening Reception was held as part of the Brighter Beginnings in Mental Health Program, sponsored by AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
In the Summer of 2007, Good Samaritan invited us back, and many of the same artists worked on murals for the geriatric psychiatry unit at Good Samaritan Hospital.These murals were 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.



Our Beginnings
