Yukon artists share mental illness experiences in 'Just Breathe' exhibit

Yukon artist Sandra Storeysays people have been using shapes and drawings to express their emotionssince pre-historic times, so it's no surprise that art can be used to help deal with a mental illness.

When Storey was approached byCheri Van Delst, a mental health practitioner, aboutcurating an art exhibit onmental illness, it was an easy sell. For her part, Van Delst wanted to bring more public awareness tomental illness.

"One of the things that I was aware of is just how many people I work with use art, or dance, or music as a way of expressing their struggles or a way of coping with them," Van Delstsays.

The result of the collaboration between Van Delst and Storeyis an exhibit called"Just Breathe," which opened at Whitehorse's North End Gallery last week. It features the work ofEmma Barr, Brianne Bremner, JoseCarbonneau,Neil Graham and Storey, whoused the painting, photography, sculpture and sewing with fish scalesto share their mentalillnessstories.

Storey says all the artists she approached about being in the show said yes.

"I think it says a lot about the courage of the individual artist," she says. "It's the community we live in and the tolerance and compassion that have changed a lot of our society."

The show's opening coincided with Mental IllnessAwareness Week. "Just Breathe" is ondisplay at the North End Gallery in Whitehorse until the end of October.