Paseo community funds local artist’s project to help eliminate mental health stigma

(Oklahoma City, OK) The Paseo community is helping fund a local artist to illustrate her journey with mental illness through art.

“Touched by Fire” illustrates Suzanne Henthorn’s journey to sustained mental health through her art, as well as to help take away mental health stigma, which prevents some from seeking help.

Henthorn won Paseo’s FEAST #11 on Aug. 25 at Picasso Café. FEAST stands for Funding Emerging Art with Sustainable Tactics and is organized by the Paseo Arts Association. The bi-annual fundraiser consists of dinner and presentations by the five finalists. 

“My project is to illustrate how I have learned to live with a mental illness by using art, creating a visual journal to work out distorted thought processes,” Henthorn said in her FEAST presentation. “I consider my work to be self-portraits, not of my physical self, but psychological portraits.”

Oklahoma is ranked second in the nation in the number of residents with mental illnesses but spends less than the national average per capita for mental health treatment, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration.

Henthorn used her presentation to explain Oklahoma’s need for mental health awareness, especially in light of recent events.

“This exhibit is meant to engage the public in a dialogue about what mental illness is and is not,” Henthorn said. “I believe eliminating stigma will help more people to seek life saving treatment.”

The prize money from FEAST is compiled from tickets sales and donations to help kick start artist projects. Henthorn plans to use the money for materials to finish her sculpture, frame paintings and prepare her art for travel.

Henthorn used her acceptance speech to express her sorrow toward the Costello family. She hopes her art can help erase mental health stigma and teach others to find an outlet to help them along their own journeys.

“The art community is very accepting,” Henthorn said. “I have to work up the courage to speak about mental illness, but when I do, they really want to listen. I’m so thankful for the platform that Paseo FEAST has given me.”

FEAST #12 will be held in January. For mental health support in Oklahoma, visit namioklahoma.org. For more information, call the Paseo Arts Association at (405) 525-2688 or email at amanda@thepaseo.org or visit the website at www.thepaseo.org. 

Established in 1981, the Paseo Arts Association is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that provides a unique environment for the visual, performing and culinary arts in the historic Paseo Arts District. The PAA provides year round arts activities, life-cycle arts programming and enrichment activities to the larger Oklahoma City community, including their monthly First Friday Gallery Walk, an annual three-day Arts Festival and arts education activities to neighboring schools and organizations.

The Gayly – August 29, 2015 @ 1:15pm.