PHOTOVOICE is an engagement and empowerment strategy that uses photography as a tool for social change. It gives any group the opportunity to record, reflect on, and critique personal and community issues in a creative way.

The aim of this project is to motivate participants to be actively involved in decisions that affect their own lives, while decreasing stigma and broadening understanding of their personal struggles. The resulting exhibit, REFOCUSING THE LENS, features the work of five participants who have documented their personal experiences with mental health, eager to represent them to the outside world. Act quickly, By DK

Artist’s Statement

In my personal experience with mental illness things tend to move – they either get better or worse. They don’t stay the same for long. Navigating this reality is like trying to follow a map to figure out how to get to the side of wellness. The right side is so easy to make sense of and get through, while the left is near impossible. Its funny how in the midst of my struggle it always seems like I’m on the left side… until things get even worse and more confusing, as they have in the past. I notice that I often [...] continue the story

PHOTOVOICE is an engagement and empowerment strategy that uses photography as a tool for social change. It gives any group the opportunity to record, reflect on, and critique personal and community issues in a creative way.

The aim of this project is to motivate participants to be actively involved in decisions that affect their own lives, while decreasing stigma and broadening understanding of their personal struggles. The resulting exhibit, REFOCUSING THE LENS, features the work of five participants who have documented their personal experiences with mental health, eager to represent them to the outside world. A leap of faith, By DK

Artist’s Statement

In my recovery journey one of the biggest obstacles of all is overcoming feelings of fear and hopelessness so overwhelming that they often cripple me in my efforts to move forward. It’s a scary thing to walk into the unknown. Moving forward is easy when you can clearly see a positive ending, but taking a leap of faith even in times of hopelessness and uncertainty, I am discovering, is the key to making progress. Select a thumbnail to see a photo and its story.

PHOTOVOICE is an engagement and empowerment strategy that uses photography as a tool for social change. It gives any group the opportunity to record, reflect on, and critique personal and community issues in a creative way.

The aim of this project is to motivate participants to be actively involved in decisions that affect their own lives, while decreasing stigma and broadening understanding of their personal struggles. The resulting exhibit, REFOCUSING THE LENS, features the work of five participants who have documented their personal experiences with mental health, eager to represent them to the outside world. When the skies clear up, By DK

Artist’s Statement

Depression is like an overcast day. Its been really really valuable to me when the skies become clear, even if for only a moment. It makes things easier when the beauty in the world becomes evident. I need moments like that. That is the proof. It is what gives me hope when it once again becomes cloudy. Knowing that behind the clouds there is beauty and that the clouds, my depression, are nothing but mist obscuring my view. The beauty has always been there and is always there whether I can see it or not. Knowing this fact instills [...] continue the story