Comments from
thousands posted by visitors to the show:
Tonight I have become a listener. Beth
The most enlightening exhibit I have ever
seen. Kathy S.
The portraits themselves are striking. Thank you for bringing
mental illness to light. Both my mother and grandmother suffered
from it. AMP
As a person who has agoraphobia, panic attacks I want to thank
all the courageous individuals who shared their lives as they
live w/mental illness and mental health. I have been very encouraged
and don’t feel so alone anymore. This gallery feels like
a sanctuary to me. D.C.
As a mental health professional & a person with a mental illness,
I understand & can feel with compassion how these people struggle
each day to stay sane. It is such hard work. I thank you for this
wonderful exhibit. It is time that more people understand mental
illness as an "illness" just like diabetes is an illness.
It only takes one moment in time for anyone to cross that fine
line. All people need to remember this. These are real, courageous
people who have shared their stories. Jeff
I am changed by every story. Michael you are a visionary. Thank
you for this profoundly moving exhibit. Cindy,
Mother of Autistic son
Very impressive and revealing. I had never thought about schizophrenia
like that.
The exhibits that I have seen today made
me realize I am not alone about some of my thoughts and experiences.
It touched my heart very much. I think it’s amazing how
these people let you come in their world for 5 minutes. Thank
you. Sincerely, Ashley Orozco
Michael, this little piece of paper can’t hold my thoughts
& very profound feelings. The show is reverent, meditative,
so very fine & worthy – we want to shout out to people
to stop, look, and be human. –
Becky Patterson
No textbook past or future is or will be as descriptive as the
verbal testimonies mounted on the wall. These are everyday people
trying desperately to relay their souls so you would get a glimpse
of their world.
My thoughts of suicide are often, so are my actions, This exhibit…filled
a space in my heart. Thanks
I work at an answering service. I talk to
mentally ill people everyday and now after 2 years of this I know
where they are coming from. Thank
you TGN
Listen to the silence. You can still hear the voices whispering.
You can still feel the tears lingering. I just want to stand in
the silence - and listen longer.
I am in a graduate-counseling program right now and work with
people that have mental illness in my current job very often.
This exhibit was presented so beautifully. I wish everyone would
see it.
Very cutting edge! LOVED IT! Really brings the pictures to life!
Jillian Evans
Sometimes you don’t realize the value of life and love.
Today I had a reminder of how important it is to take time and
realize that life is not only about you but also about others.
Thanks Gracie M
It opens your eyes but most importantly it opens your heart to
mentally ill people Thanks Jaime
I am studying bipolar disorder for a research project for school.
Learning facts from the internet and encyclopedia is one thing,
but this exhibit shows the emotions and feelings that go along
with bipolar disorder and mental illness in general. This has
given me a new perspective. It really opened my eyes. Thank
you Sarah
I have a son who is Schizo Affective/bipolar. I related to the
sadness of mental illness, the whole family suffers so. But I
could see that there is a little bit of insanity in all of us
waiting to some out, if we let it, if we don’t’ take
care of our minds our thoughts. A wonderful work. Jak
Thank you Michael Nye for this display of much emotion, my sensitivity
needed sharpening like these pencils need sharpening – I’ll
come back several times to listen.
As a psychiatric nurse & one who has major depression, I can
relate. This was so touching & something everyone could benefit
from!
I brought my husband. What I could not explain, this exhibit did.
I will bring the rest of my family - those who are accepting.
Chris B.
An indictment of our failing mental health care & society’s
turning its back on such suffering. Yet, such compassion expressed
by the sufferers themselves. Thank you, Michael Nye et al. There
are so many of us who suffer alone, in silence. BMS
This exhibit is spectacular. It opens up people’s eyes to
what they really don’t understand.
A very powerful exhibit. Here people who are in you own community.
They should be respected, not treated like trash thrown aside.
They should be honored. This exhibit was a powerful and heart
breaking exhibit. - Izy
I suffer from bipolar and depression so I know how these people
feel and I wish everybody did so they would not be so hard on
us. Thank you Erica
It really touched me like I never been touched before. Love,
Cindy
Letting people speak for themselves and about their reality, and
then listening to them, is such a compassionate act. Developing
a voice, using it, being heard, are the fundamental ways in which
we evolve as humans. I respect this project and I respect the
value of the lives shown here. There is such a fine line between
health and non-health. I wish crossing that line didn’t
involve so much alienation. I enjoy so much the multi-media concept
of these exhibits – it is so elegant a presentation. It
was so important for me to see this exhibit b/c I am so enchanted
by the idea of the voice allowed to speak, free of an outside
interpretation. Thanks Megan Stacy
As a manic-depressive person, I feel the pain of living like these
people. The depression is overwhelming sometimes this exhibit
is so profound, so true.
It’s hard to breathe in here. I guess you just don’t
pay attention to yourself. Kelly
Lenner
Cascading feelings of remembrance show me the feelings of others
around me as I watch and unfold the feelings inside me on the
canvas of other participants. Ernest
Hulog
I always thought that I was the only one. With a lot of these
problems but a friend brought me here so I’m not the only
one. Maria
I have worked with & helped teach chronically mentally ill
persons. It is a challenge & a reward. I loved the exhibit.
Great work!
My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia
last year at the age of 14. I’m still trying to understand
the illness and help him. Thanks for your wonderful exhibit. Martie
After 30 yrs I finally understood lives. Why I see people alone
& sad & struggle. Everyone has a story. The first time
I came it was an emotional experience to me. And I came 2nd time
but this time I brought my 15 yr old son. I pray he’ll have
the same experience I did. God
Bless all G.G.I.
Sad & wonderful at the same time-- loved
it. jc
I came to the exhibit a couple of time. I brought a friend of
mine who is diagnosed bipolar. I wanted her to see that she is
not alone. I came because my mother was mentally ill all her life
even though no one would talk about it. She committed suicide.
I suffer from depression now and struggle with my pain. I wanted
to know the stories of others to help me understand better. This
exhibit does a wonderful job of explaining mental illness. Our
pain, our struggles and how society views us. I hope it changes
the view of those who don’t suffer with Mental illness.
Nancy
This exhibit should be seen by everyone especially those who work
in Mental Health. The exhibit should travel! It is wonderful!
Mary Kraty MS (Health Ed.) Eagleville
Hospital Eagelville, PA.
Thank you for this piece. You have revealed and captured the kindness
in humanity which I fail to see or practice sometimes.
Thank you, Mr. Nye, for this exhibit. As
a psych grad student it is easy to get caught up in the literature
& program of mental illness. This exhibit places the focus
back where it should-The story of people lives. The narrative.
Sarah Suniga
This exhibit was amazing. It broadened my view of the world and
showed the importance of Love and compassion towards all people.
Kaithin Kelly-Thompson
Gave me a sense of compassion & understanding to the mentally
ill. Despite the illnesses themselves these people show integrity,
honesty & a love for life. Dave
What a blessing this exhibit is! I think it nailed the point that
the line b/w "normalcy" and mental illness is vague
to say the least. Don’t we all fall on some continuum of
symptoms similar to these? We are all human. Shouldn’t all
be treated as such? Tara w/Telecare
I myself have always perceived mental illness as being something
strange and unusual. Now my perception is different. Thanks to
this exhibit. This has truly been a remarkable and memorable experience
Mr. Gordons Psychology Class 2301 - Jose
Ortiz
An amazing exhibit of something usually just ignored! Thank you!
Arturo Martinez, UIW Eagle Pass
TX
I like this exhibit because it has true-life difficulties. My
favorite one is about the girl whose brother is bipolar. I rushed
to my mom as soon as I heard it because she’s bipolar. Anyways
I think the exhibit was great. From
Cheyenn
It was a very emotional experience. It moved me to tears! A lot
of Dysfunction in our wonderful world. Eileen
I greatly appreciated this great exhibit. Thanks, for sharing
and making people aware of mental illness. Not to fear it but
to be understanding.
Well done! You have touched my soul. Martha
I have suffered from mental illness myself, and I am a photographer.
This is world-class photography combined with incredible honesty
about mental illness. A great show! I wish more people could experience
it. A.L
This exhibit was amazing. In two different ways. I think that
people being able to share there life is very interesting. I was
sad. Leanna De Leon
Thank you for giving these people a voice. This exhibit was extremely
moving. – Michelle Flores
UTSA Graduate Student
I liked that the exhibit didn’t list the mental illness
by the picture. It took the focus away from the illness and put
it on their life experience and feelings. I was struck by the
people’s plea for kindness. Christy
Austin Trinity Student
You don’t know anyone’s story until you listen….
Julia
Excellent powerful needs to be in a traveling exhibit/class rooms
(college) for students enrolled in social work, psychology, etc.
programs- Anne Psychologist Tech
This exhibit is wonderfully fantastic. It shows that everybody
need love, has fears, and can grow. I have a better understanding
of those of us who are sick and suffer from mental illness. We
are all the same, we feel, and love and desire the same things
in life. Alex Garcia from SA,
TX UTSA down town
This exhibit touched my heart. Taught me a different perspective.
My eyes are open now. Thx
This exhibit, it was very weird at first then I realized what
was happening. We need to accept mental people I learned a lot.
Great.
My name is Jeannie I have Anxiety disorder/depression. This Exhibit
made me feel love and thanks love for all the people that walk
away from this with a new way at liking at people with mental
Illness. Hope for life and what is in store. All my life I have
felt by myself in this world of Illness, but now I feel and know
that there is lot of it out there and we are great people.
Congratulations on a beautiful exhibit that helps us to understand
mental illness. I have worked in this field. President Ronald
Reagan closed many facilitation for the mental ill & withdraw
funding from agencies in the 1980’s. Shame on our nation
for refusing to care for the mentally & physically disabled.
C.S.
This exhibit should go on the road for a wider audience. VA
MH professional
My mother was institutionalized when I was 5, my father was a
sociologist and worked on Ward’s Island with the criminally
insane. My cousin is a paranoid schizophrenic and her whole family
has a history. Now that I’ve grown up, I’ve chose
to help soldiers for the time being.
You have helped me a lot I see into others
and it may me realize a lot of things. Thank you. Heather
Flanagen
It’s too real. Somehow it makes one think about life and
illusion. True heroes. Solmilla
You have helped me look into another world and appreciate it we
are all the same yet different I can see that and embrace it without
judgement. Adele
The headphones gave a sense of privacy and allowed for true introspection
thank you. Monica It is nice to realize that MY FEAR is relative
to others. That being alone is not really being alone. John
EXCELLENT! Very compassionate portrayal of People, who live and
love and also have mental illness.
I thoroughly enjoyed your work. I don’t
think I have gotten to know a person with a mental illness, and
so your idea intrigues me. The sympathy I feel makes me feel refreshingly
human. I think we lose touch with things as simple as common sympathy
for others often. Thank you for making this experience available.
Sincerely, Travis Horn International
School of the Americans
Michael, This is a moving exhibit. The photographs are beautiful.
How can images so beautiful can such touch such deep, often sad
places in my heart? Thank you for this original work. C
I am a nurse. I have worked with folks who have mental illness
is also in my family too. I have never seen an exhibit like this.
Thanks for opening a door to understand. RN
Texas
I have found this exhibit to be one of the best ways for people
to understand what its like to have a mental illness and that
it doesn’t take much to end up, on the street or to be "classified".
Molly Montogrra
Pictures and stories were extremely moving and interesting. Photographs
were original and very artistic. Most people in the photos didn’t
even look as if anything was wrong, so it was interesting to hear
what they had to say.
Thanks you! My mother has a mental illness
that has profoundly affected all of her children – mostly
for the better I think. I love her and am challenged by her and
still struggle with accepting her. This exhibit helped!!!!
