Category Archives: Art therapy

Fighting Normal goes to Saskatchewan

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Our Fighting Normal exhibit will be on display in Kerrobert, Sask., from Sept. 7 through Oct. 21, 2022. The exhibit will open at the Kerrobert Courtroom Gallery, 433 Manitoba Drive, on Wednesday, Sept 7 at 7pm. The following evening, award-winning mental health advocate Amy Willans will deliver the presentation, ‘Triumph of the Spirit,’ in which she shares her own story and what she’s learned about wellness, stigma, the healing powers of art, and the importance of community, resilience and gratitude. Everyone welcome.

See Fighting Normal in St Albert, Sept. 18

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10 thousand drums of HOPE cropped

Ten Thousand Drums of Hope, acrylic on panel, Laurie MacFayden; text by Amy Willans

Great news — we have been asked to remount Fighting Normal – our multi-discipline installation challenging the stigma of mental illness – at the St Albert Public Library this week. 

Text fragments from Amy Willans’s bold, poignant poetry about her experience with mental illness, in combination with paintings and photo/collage pieces created by Laurie MacFayden, will be on display in the library’s programming room for a week beginning Sunday, Sept. 15.

The main event is Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 7 pm, featuring a presentation followed by a Q&A session.

This show made its debut at Visual Arts Alberta gallery in January 2013. We’re very proud and excited to be offered another opportunity to display this work, thanks to Regional Writer in Residence Mary Pinkoski. In the six years since its inception, Amy has become a highly sought-after public speaker; and is now an award-winning mental health advocate and educator. She has had two pieces published in the Globe and Mail newspaper; and been a featured guest on White Coat, Black Art, a CBC radio documentary series hosted by Dr. Brian Goldman. 

Earlier this year, Amy was recognized at the Edmonton Mayor’s Awards with the Ewen Nelson Award for Self Advocacy for her work fighting stigma, educating the general public about mental illness, and supporting those living with brain illnesses. She is currently working on a memoir about her journey.

The St. Albert Public Library is located at 5 Anne Street, in the same building as the Arden Theatre/St. Albert Place.