Wielding Brushes Against Mental Demons

John Christy of Jamestown, N.Y., explains why he’s an artist about as well as it can be said: “It soothes my soul.”

Most artists would probably agree. But Christy, you see, suffers from bipolar manic depression. The 41-year-old has suffered from mental illness most of his life.

One of his paintings is included in an impressive exhibition at the Very Special Arts California Gallery at MainPlace/Santa Ana. Called “Sunshine From Darkness,” the exhibit is one of three national traveling shows put together by the Brea office of the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD).

All of the artists whose works are in the exhibition suffer from some type of mental illness.

Nancy Smith, the curator, tells some extraordinary, even chilling stories about these artists. There was the recent show in Philadelphia: One artist in his 40s, Michael Alice, seemed honored to have had his work chosen for an exhibit there. And he appeared pleased to be present at the opening. But Smith said she did not realize just how much it meant to him until later, when she talked with his parents:

Except for trips to the doctor, it was the first time he had been out of his house in 30 years.

These traveling art shows were created by Patsy and Hal Hollister of La Habra Heights. They run it all, along with a holiday and gift card business for NARSAD, out of a small complex of offices on Lambert Avenue in Brea. Smith, a lifetime devotee of art, chuckled when she told me how she got involved. She’s a neighbor of the Hollisters and volunteered nine years ago to spend one day rolling up prints for shipping. Since then, she’s never called it quits.

Here’s a short version of how it started:

The Hollisters became involved in NARSAD when it was created in the mid-1980s. Their daughter, Annick, suffers from schizophrenia. She’s also an accomplished artist. One day in August 1988, Patsy and Hal picked up some copies of one of her works from a company in Long Beach. Somewhere on the freeway heading to Pasadena, it hit them both at once--NARSAD was the perfect vehicle for organizing displays of works by artists who suffer from mental illness.

It’s been a struggle to put the card business and shows together. But it’s had a remarkable outcome--profits of $100,000-plus each year for NARSAD. Pretty heady stuff, when you consider that Smith receives only a nominal salary and the Hollisters’ diligent work is unpaid.

Each year, Smith goes through hundreds of pieces submitted by artists nationwide who want to be in one of the traveling shows. She and the Hollisters agree on the selections.

Patsy Hollister explained why it’s so very important to the artists: “For the first time, they are being recognized for something besides their mental illness.”

The artists receive a small fee if their work is selected for the printed cards or the traveling exhibits. Some do sell their pieces, but usually just at year’s end. The exception is the MainPlace exhibit, where you can buy most of the pieces now. It runs through May 11.

Very Special Arts, a nonprofit group that exists as an outlet for artists with disabilities, is on the upper level next to Robinsons-May North. You won’t regret the time spent if you stop in.

Every piece you gaze upon, you have to wonder about the artist’s story. An artist listed as Eric Petersen wrote for the display plaque next to his work that art helps him fight his “demons and devils.” Very Special Arts Director Mickey Shaw pointed out two pieces that appeared to be created by two people. And in a sense, they were. They are the work of Aranda Michaels, who has split personalities.

I should note that at first I was going to leave out the names--much the way we might leave out a juvenile’s name in a crime story or the name of a rape victim. It was Smith and Shaw who made me realize I was displaying my own ignorance about the mentally ill. These artists want their names mentioned. They aren’t ashamed to admit something they cannot control on their own--that they suffer from mental illness.

Taking Over: Very Special Arts has a very special day coming up May 9. Its “Arts in Harmony” show will take over the whole mall, Shaw said, with more than 1,000 pieces by artists with disabilities. Included will be workshops in dance, music, theater and visual arts. She’s looking for volunteers to help out. You can call (714) 835-8867.

Fewer Kisses at the Ballpark: A few weeks ago I expressed my disdain for the growing number of Edison International Co. banners around the county telling us to “Kiss Your Big A Goodbye.” Whoever created that marketing campaign needs a refresher course in sensitivity. The idea was to promote Edison as the new name behind the renovations at what we once fondly called “the Big A,” or Anaheim Stadium.

Since that column, numerous readers have called or written with their own views about it. All are angry at the billboard campaign. One typical letter comes from Bob Spenger of Fullerton:

“I am amazed by the in-your-face attitude; I would expect many fans to be infuriated.” Spenger said he first thought the billboards were put up by an anti-Edison group.

Wrap-Up: Please allow a personal closing note today. We in the newspaper business lost one of our heroes last weekend. Norman E. Isaacs died at age 89.

Fresh from college in 1969, I joined the Louisville Courier-Journal & Times because my professors had so greatly touted the high standards set by Isaacs, executive editor of both newspapers.

He left Louisville two years after I got there, to go on to a second lengthy career as editor in residence at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York. Isaacs was quoted often as an authoritative voice on American journalism.

As a young reporter in Louisville, I was working one Saturday night and saw Isaacs sitting in the slot--meaning he was the desk editor at the center of getting out the next day’s paper. I asked someone why the powerful executive editor would be taking on such a thankless task on a weekend.

An editor responded: “Isaacs likes to keep the news ink on his hands.” A splendid example for any of us, whatever our field.