The Gallery May Issue

The Gallery

May 2011

The Art of Mental Illness Magazine

The

Gal

lery

The

Gal

lery

Yes we are ...........late. The news is I have beeninundated with requests for interviews withother mags and features on blogs since thelast issue. The response has been great and Ihave to thank the folks who have visited usand then told their friends. Its very humblingand augers well for the future of the gallery andmost importantly, our contributing artists.

So.. This month we have lots of exciting

news and projects ahead of us. Loulane Perlgives us a rundown on the activities at theWisdom of Perl retreat over the coming weeksand I take a look at the connection betweenmental Health and Genealogy.

Our feature artist this month is CHUCKMATRIXClip a prim sulpture with an extraodinary talent.

We kick off the Avatar Project and of course welook at the events coming up at the gallery

TAMI acquired a new complex last month inthe Region of Kangaroo. The Kangaroo FamilyHistory Centre opened its doors and we arelooking forward to a long association with thecomplex.

One other thing before I shut up , I have hadseveral folks come to me and express theiranger and frustration at particular avatarsjoining mental health groups with the expresspurpose to be-little and denigrate those of uswho suffer from these conditions. I myself wassubject to a diatribe of disgraceful anddisgusting sewage after placing someinformation on the SL Forums. Thankfully after Icontacted the moderator with some protestsabout the nature of these messages, theoffending post was removed within minutes ofmy complaint. Thanks and well done Lindens.

Front Cover ImageAll That’s Left byCHUCKMATRIX Clip

JUST A LITTLE NOYES...

THAT’S ITTHAT’S NOYES...

The

Gal

lery

The Art of Mental Illness acquired a complexin Kangaroo last month to further itsinvolvement with the second life community.A former shopping mall, the area has beenconverted into offices, all of which are onground level. Ideally the offices willaccommodate the genealogists and familyhistorians of second life. The complex hasbeen renamed The Kangaroo Family HistoryCentre.

According to Danny Noyes, family history andmental health issues are linked for certainpeople.“In my case”, says Danny, “I have foundthrough my research of my own family historythat Bipolar has been in the family forgenerations. Family suicides and ancestorsbeing institutionalised all makes for greatreading however it may also give a sense ofunderstanding, that maybe there is a geneticthing going on here”.

One of the enlightening things that canhappen as you work on your genealogy isthe discovery of mental illness in yourancestors. I have several relatives that havedifferent mental health conditions, and Isometimes wonder where that came from.Trying to understand how certain mentalhealth disorders were passed from oneancestor to another isn't always easy. Thereis added complexity every time the name fora particular condition is changed.

You may come across old names that wereonce used for certain mental health issues,that we no longer use today. Here is a quicklist of some that you might have comeacross in your genealogy research:

The term "Mania" was used to refer to allkinds of insanity. Today, one might think thatthis term translates into Manic Depression,(which is now often called Bi-Polar). However,since "Mania" was used to describe a widevariety of things, one cannot be certainexactly what an ancestor who suffered from"Mania" would be diagnosed as today.

"Nervous Prostration" once was used todescribe the condition of a person who wassuffering from extreme exhaustion that wasdue to the inability of that person to controlhis or her physical and mental activities. I amnot a physician or mental health practitioner,but I cannot help but wonder if the samedisorder would be referred to as a"breakdown" today.

TAMI Expands Into FamilyHistory by Kate Hudson

f e a t u r eMENTAL I LLNESS

AND FAMILY H ISTORY

The

Gal

lery

"Nostalgia" was once considered to be amental health condition. Today, when we usethe word nostalgia, we are referring to whena person thinks fondly of days gone by, or oftheir childhood.These memories can be evoked when aperson sees an old object that looks a lotlike one that they used to own. Today, wemight call this same condition"homesickness".

There were several words that once referredto a person who had some kind of mentaldeficiency. Many of these words are impolite,not politically correct, or downright hurtful toour ears today. It is possible to come acrossthe word "cretin", "feeble minded", "simpleton", or "Mongolism". It's hard to imagine, butmany of these words were considered to beproper medical terminology in the past.

The terms "amentia" and "dementia" havebeen used in the past to refer to a widevariety of mental illnesses. Amentia describeda person who developed a mental disorderas a child, or early in life. Dementia was theterm for a person who developed it later inlife, as an adult.

Photographs capture a moment in time andprovide an important link to our past. Theyprovide us with an historic record andpriceless, irreplaceable memories of familyand special events.

For family historians restoring those oldphotographs of our not so togetherancestors ensures that they will be with usfor the future.Thanks to Restore My Photo, there will be asection on genealogy in each months issueof The Gallery.Anyone wishing to contribute is mostwelcome. Contact Danny Noyes Or KateHudson by note Card Drop at the mailbox atRestore My Photo office at The KangarooFamily History Centre.

f e a t u r eMENTAL I LLNESS

AND FAMILY H ISTORY

The

Gal

lery

Yoga Benefits for MentalHealth by Loulane Perl

Yoga meditation calms our mind and wardsoff stressful thoughts. Your mind becomescalm and clear, and you will be able to facethe causes of your stress and tension withwith a little more confidence.

Yoga can promote sound sleep, which willmake you refreshed and energetic. Yogaimproves self worth and self esteem, whichwill make you feel good throughout the day.

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

� increased energy levels

� Better concentration and focus

� Increase in self-confidence

� Relaxed and calm attitude to life’sproblems

� Improves self-control over mind andbody

� Increases awareness of the mind’sbehavior and tendencies

� Yoga classes help ward off lonelinessand depression by helping us minglewith like-minded people

A Word of CautionDespite its many benefits for mental health,yoga should not be considered as an all-in-one remedy to treat mental problems. If yousuffer from any mental illness, you shouldfirst consult a professional for help. He/shecan provide you proper counseling andmedication. You can use yoga to deal withthe side effects of mental problems.

Yoga is one of the best ways to get a soundmind in a healthy body. Yoga for mentalhealth is thus a holistic method to keepourselves happy and contented. You do nothave to take recourse to drugs or otherharmful substances to get high. Yoga andmeditation can give us the best andhealthiest high. This is known as spiritualbliss.

W i s d o m o f P e r lmedi ta t ion-yoga- re t rea t -suppor t

The

Gal

lery

CHUCKMATRIX Clip is a prim sculpture insecond life. His work, in a word is....sensational. Not only in the style that hehas manage to capture but the piecesthemselves. From his abstract art, through theultra modern chrome creatures, to the Pietainspired sculptures that would keepMichelangelo looking over his shoulder.

CHUCKMATRIX is a self taught builder andsculpture in second life and learned his skillsthrough trial and error. After a flurry of creative

activity encouraged from a year long hiatusand a need to prove something to himself,CHUCKMATRIX built his business, CMCDesigns. He focuses more on art andcreativity and the integrity of his pieces thesedays, rather than, modifications for peoplewho had an interest in his work.

CHUCKMATRIX has now built an excellentgallery housing his designs. His work isexemplary, it’s exciting, its confronting andthat sits well with a gallery such as this. I

have become a fan, unashamedlyso ...and I bet you will too.

Danny Noyes

CHUCKMATRIX, like all of us insecond life has an alter ego, inwhat is known as the real world.He hails from New Jersey, USAand is a graphic design major.He got his start in the second lifeart community by uploading hispersonal paintings and drawingsand showing to friends on thegrid.CHUCKMATRIX, like most of usinvolved with this gallery, haswalked the dark alleys of the mindas well. A fellow bipolar suffererCHUCKMATRIX had the dubiouspleasure of experiencing the

f e a t u r e a r t i s t CHUCKMATRIX Clip

The

Gal

lery

depression and mania of the condition at thesame time.Finally CHUCKMATRIX found his way in life.Through an art teacher acquaintanceCHUCKMATRIX was pointed to a localschool’s graphic design program and afterone interview was accepted into theprogram.


vacancy

The

Gal

lery

Here is a quote from CHUCKMATRIX:“Around that time I found second life, and init a whole new medium. I found a form ofexpression here that I could never achieve inreal life, and even better, an audience whoappreciated it. Second life in many waysbecame a better therapy for me thananything in real life. Even better than all ofthat, it was here that I learned what it trulymeans to love. Ifthe past 8 years was the only way I couldreach this point in my life, this level ofmaturity and growth, then so be it. Has itbeen hard? YES! But I would do it all again......in a heartbeat.

eve


all that’s left

The

Gal

lery

T h e A v a t a r P r o j e c t By Mo l l y Ca l laghan

The avatar Project is a collaborative effortbetween TAMI Second Life and the foundersof TAMI Real Life. The project involvespainting the images of 300 avatars fromsecond life and producing them on a largecanvas that can be exhibited in the realworld. The ‘brains’ behind this effort is thefounder of both organisations, Danny Noyes.In a rare look at his personal side Dannytook me through a maze of ideas andprojects that he says stems from the creativeside of Bipolar.“The idea behind this project is to highlighttwo things. Firstly to shine another spotlighton Bipolar and mental health in general andsecondly, to espouse the virtues of a virtuallife. Since being diagnosed last year Ireturned to second life hoping to find awayto further disappear from reality. Instead, Ihave found the opposite. Whether you callthis a game or a platform, or a piece of toastfor all I care, the reality is ...it does help.”Asked to explain further Danny went on totell me about the mental health supportgroups in second life. “Never before has thatcliché been so true, We are not alone. Insecond life that’s remarkably accurate, youare never alone. I have heard people refer tothe vacant areas of land and no people inshopping malls etc, but, if you belong to anynumber of groups you can always findsomeone on line to talk to, or conversely, tohelp out.”

The project requires 300 images of avatarsto be painted in real life and produced forexhibition. If you would like to be involvedplease leave an image of yourself on anotecard and deliver it to Restore My PhotoKangaroo Family History Centre Kangaroo207,192,63Please ensure the following is on the card.

� Your name� a head and shoulders shot or� a full body shot or� a 3/4 length shot.� May be Nude or Clothed.� No couple shots.� No props.� Preferably plain background

All participants will receive a free copy of thefinished painting for second life.

The

Gal

lery

a r t s h o w c a s e

Dani Angela

The

Beginning

Part of the Black Dog Series

The 60’s

The Middle

Part of the Black Dog Series

Autumn

There

is No End

Part of the Black Dog

The Monk

To submit your artwork, please contact Danny Noyes:

[email protected]

or via note card at the gallery

a r t s h o w c a s eCurrently on show at the gallery.

www.callaghanart.com.au

[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]


[email protected]

The

Gal

lery

exhibitions & eventsO u r r e g u l a r l i s t i n g o f f o r t h c o m i n g e v e n t s a t t h e

G a l l e r y a n d G r o u p s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e g a l l e r y

Wisdom of Perl Yoga Class Friday May 13th 3am - 4am slt Saphira,54, 214, 86

Wisdom of Perl Bipolar Support Group Saturday May 14th 3am - 4am slt Saphira,54, 214, 86





The Art of Mental

Illness

CHUCKMATRIX Chip

Exhibition

All Through May Open Hours Saphira 72, 229, 85

Do not stand at my grave andweep. I am not there; I do notsleep. I am a thousand windsthat blow; I am the diamondglints on snow. I am thesunlight on ripened grain; Iam the gentle autumn's rain.Do not stand at my grave andmourn. I am the dew-fleckedgrass at dawn. Where tranquil

oceans meet the land I amthe footprints in the sand, toguide you through the wearyday. I am still here; I'll alwaysstay. When you wake up tomorning's hush I am the swiftuplifting rush, of quiet birdsin circled flight. I am the starsthat shine at night. Do notstand at my grave and cry. Iam not there; I did not die.

On March 28th 2011, JammersInka, a talented builder, storyteller and poet of second life,tragically lost her life in anautomobile accident. Jammerswas mute and her observationsof life were more astute than

most, rare in someone so young.Her thoughts, her wishes, herhopes and her dreams, whereexpressed through her writings.Her caring and understandingnature will be sadly missed bythe second life community as nodoubt, the real world.

T.A.M.I Art Gallery is proud tohost a Memorial Servicehonouring Jammers Second Life.Mr Corwyn Allen will conduct aPoetry reading of Jammers ‘work.Refreshments will be served .Allare welcome.The Inka Garden of Remembrancehas been established at Book Islandand an entire Garden Habitat onTiny International Space Station inthe Raglan Galaxy.

For more deta i ls drop a note card a t the ga l le ry wi th your enqui res or

emai l :dannynoyes@thear to fmenta l i l lness .com.au

special event Saphira 72, 229, 85 May 22nd 4:30 am - 5:30 am slt

contacts

Makers of Bipolar Tee-Shirts

See our market stall inthe market area of TAMISaphira 72, 229, 85

ADVERTISE HEREDepression 24/7 Help Line

Manic-Depression

UGG - Union of Genealogy Group

Genealogists of Second Life

Mental Health Network

BiPolar Support

Group List

T . A . M . I G r o u p s

T h e A r t o f M e n t a l I l l n e s s

W i s d o m o f P e r l .

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

To advertise contact

[email protected]

To add your group to the group list

[email protected]

The Gallery May Issue

Documents