Second World Mad Pride Biennale

From June 12 to July 14 Gallery Gachet hosts an art exhibition, films, performances, and panel discussions addressing mental health, human rights and psychiatry. Events at Gallery Gachet are free or by donation.

A highlight of this year’s Biennale includes our collaboration with SFU’s Madness, Citizenship & Social Justice Conference (June 12-15). Visit: www.sfu.ca/madcitizenship-conference for more details and to register .

World Mad Pride vision
– Highlighting the global movement advocating for mental health and human rights through sharing and showcasing artistic expression on these themes.
– Connecting artists; work that addresses the social determinants of mental health.
– Challenge stigmas of people living with mental health issues.
– Providing a forum for discussion and education on these issues.
– Creating links to the rights of individuals for health and security worldwide.

Film Screenings:

This Beggar’s Description
Sunday, June 15, 11:15am, SFU Harbour Centre, Room 1700 (Session 33)
and Sunday, June 15, 7:30pm, Gallery Gachet. Filmmaker Pierre T?trault in attendance
This Beggar’s Description tells Phil Tetraul’s story; one of art, love, and madness; capturing the far-reaching effects of schizophrenia on one man, his friends and his family.  Phil’s writing is central both to his life and to this documentary – offering extraordinary insights into street life in Montreal, his time spent at Riverview, the beauty of nature and what he calls “the gymnastics of my mind”.
Phil is celebrated at the launch of his poetry book in Montreal, which is attended by his old friend and great supporter Leonard Cohen, whose songs are woven throughout the film.
In this powerful and moving portrait, we are reminded that rather than continuing to isolate those with schizophrenia, it is a far richer experience to make a place for them.

Crooked Beauty
Ken Paul Rosenthal
Friday, June 20, 7:30pm, free, Gallery Gachet
Crooked Beauty Navigating the Space Between Brilliance and Madness is a social justice documentary that explores positive and compassionate models for transforming the experience of madness in our culture.
Artist Ashley McNamara recounts her journey from the psych ward to innovative mental health activism. Diagnosed as ‘bipolar’ at the age of 19, Ashley survived childhood trauma and substance abuse to co-found The Icarus Project, a mutual aid support network and media project by and for people struggling with dangerous gifts commonly labeled as “mental illnesses.”
Ken Paul Rosenthal’s films are poetic meditations on urban space, the natural world, and human gesture. His early body of experimental films employs organic, photochemical, and direct manipulation techniques. Ken’s films have screened internationally from NYC’s MOMA to Vancouver’s Blinding Light Cinema to Portugal’s Museum of Contemporary Arts and San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Centre for the Arts.

An Angel at My Table
Jane Campion
Friday, June 27, 7:30pm, free, Gallery Gachet
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jane Campion brings to the screen the harrowing true-life story of Janet Frame, New Zealand’s most distinguished author.  The film follows Frame along her inspiring journey, from a poverty-stricken childhood to a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia and electroshock therapy to, finally, international literary fame. Cherise Clarke will read from Tim Keane’s presentation addressing this film.

Crazy About Laurel House
Monique Cartesan
Friday, July 4, 7:30pm, free, Gallery Gachet
The members of Laurel House (Victoria, BC), an activity center for people with mental illness, take on the authorities that threaten to close their second home, the place that helps them to maintain a good quality of life. And they win.

Artist Talks + Panel Discussions

Roberta Power
Saturday, June 28, 2:00pm, free, Gallery Gachet
Roberta Power: Loozer?s Advocate: Episodes 1-3
Roberta Power is a local videographer producing short humourous episodes on radical eccentric health, humour and empowerment for late-night viewing through Shaw and ITV.  She will talk about the making of her tv episodes, Loozer’s Advocate, and on the empowerment of healing ourselves by becoming our own media.

Housing Madness Symposium
Changing Landscapes in Mental Health Policy in BC and Abroad
Thursday, July 10, 11am – 3:30pm, Gallery Gachet
By donation, lunch provided
Please RSVP madpride@gachet,org or 604-687-2468
Panel details:

Reflections on the Redevelopment of Riverview Hospital
July 10, 11am – noon
SFU Faculty of Health presents critical examination of the
current progress of deinstitutionalization from Riverview Hospital.

When We Go Back Home
July 10, 1-2pm
Direct from Brazil, creators of the Going Back Home Exhibit, traveling from Brazil for World Mad Pride, present on their experiences with mental health reform and deinstitutionalization in Barbacena.

Community Roundtable – One Flew West
July 10, 2-3:30pm
Information-sharing, debate, and roundtable discussion on the subject of deinstitutionalization and related issues of housing for citizens living with psychiatric health issues locally and globally.

Cabaret

Closing Mad Pride Cabaret
Monday, July 14, 8pm, Gallery Gachet, by donation
“Out beyond ideas of good and bad there is a field: I’ll meet you there.” -Rumi
Join us on the flip-side as our roster of mad poets, spoken word artists and musicians take you on a journey through personal geographies of mind and soul! Help us honour International Mad Pride Day with a candlelight Mad Pride closing ceremony

Second World Mad Pride Biennale
For more information: Cherise Clarke, World Mad Pride Coordinator, Gallery Gachet
madpride@gachet.org. 604-687-2468

To see pictures from this exhibition, please visit our Flickr account  https://www.flickr.com/photos/gallerygachet/sets/72157625261843126