Spring Break
Art exhibit shows there's 'Nothing to Hide'
Negative stereotypes of mental illness explored in art exhibit displayed in the Memorial Union
Lauren Sigel
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: News
Courage, determination and perseverance. These may not be the qualities that are normally associated with the term "mental illness," but that is what the exhibit 'Nothing to Hide' is aiming for.
'Nothing to Hide' is a museum-quality photo/text traveling exhibit featuring photographs and interviews with families whose lives are affected by mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, major depression and anxiety disorders.
The exhibit is organized by a non-profit organization known as Family Diversity Projects. They focus on educating people to recognize, support and celebrate diversity along with reducing stereotypes, prejudice and harassments of those who are labeled as "different."
According to the Family Diversity website, the exhibit focuses on "the compelling accounts [that] demonstrate strength, courage, integrity and accomplishment in the face of the adversity and stigma of mental illness."
"These are people just like us," said Ellen Taylor, director of counseling and psychological services.
Taylor and Jodi Nelson, vice provosts of student affairs, had become aware of the traveling exhibit through the book entitled "Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family" by Jean J. Beard. Further research on the book and the website led to idea of OSU hosting the exhibit on campus.
"We are trying to develop at OSU an 'ethos of care,' or the notion that there are folks in our community that may need our support," Taylor said. "This exhibit is a great way to promote awareness of the stigmas that come with the term 'mental illness.'"
By promoting awareness, the 'Nothing to Hide' exhibit strives to educate people and spark conversation to challenge harmful stereotypes associated with mental disorders.
Students on campus might feel a correlation with having a family member that has a mental illness, or a student having a mental illness themselves.
"My grandma had clinical depression and social anxiety disorder," said Jacqueline Smith, a senior in Spanish. "She didn't like to go out, ever. It made her anxious so I guess a lot of people viewed her as a recluse; which is sad because we, my family, saw her as who she truly was, which was a totally different person than people judged her to be."
Smith said that it was "cool" how the pictures portrayed the people and their families in a positive way.
"This exhibit is different because it looks at mental illness from a family's point of view, as opposed to the normal viewpoint of feeling bad for a family with a child with a mental disorder," Taylor said.
"Nothing to Hide" is currently on display at the MU in the Concourse Display cases right across from the Javastop.
'Nothing to Hide' is a museum-quality photo/text traveling exhibit featuring photographs and interviews with families whose lives are affected by mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, major depression and anxiety disorders.
The exhibit is organized by a non-profit organization known as Family Diversity Projects. They focus on educating people to recognize, support and celebrate diversity along with reducing stereotypes, prejudice and harassments of those who are labeled as "different."
According to the Family Diversity website, the exhibit focuses on "the compelling accounts [that] demonstrate strength, courage, integrity and accomplishment in the face of the adversity and stigma of mental illness."
"These are people just like us," said Ellen Taylor, director of counseling and psychological services.
Taylor and Jodi Nelson, vice provosts of student affairs, had become aware of the traveling exhibit through the book entitled "Nothing to Hide: Mental Illness in the Family" by Jean J. Beard. Further research on the book and the website led to idea of OSU hosting the exhibit on campus.
"We are trying to develop at OSU an 'ethos of care,' or the notion that there are folks in our community that may need our support," Taylor said. "This exhibit is a great way to promote awareness of the stigmas that come with the term 'mental illness.'"
By promoting awareness, the 'Nothing to Hide' exhibit strives to educate people and spark conversation to challenge harmful stereotypes associated with mental disorders.
Students on campus might feel a correlation with having a family member that has a mental illness, or a student having a mental illness themselves.
"My grandma had clinical depression and social anxiety disorder," said Jacqueline Smith, a senior in Spanish. "She didn't like to go out, ever. It made her anxious so I guess a lot of people viewed her as a recluse; which is sad because we, my family, saw her as who she truly was, which was a totally different person than people judged her to be."
Smith said that it was "cool" how the pictures portrayed the people and their families in a positive way.
"This exhibit is different because it looks at mental illness from a family's point of view, as opposed to the normal viewpoint of feeling bad for a family with a child with a mental disorder," Taylor said.
"Nothing to Hide" is currently on display at the MU in the Concourse Display cases right across from the Javastop.
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