In November 2019 RAW curated an exhibition about the issue of Suicide Prevention

'Support Life' Art Exhibition

Paintings done by learners at HMP Oakwood

​In November 2019, RAW curated the ‘Support Life’ art exhibition at Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton to raise awareness of the issue of Suicide Prevention.
 
The exhibition was supported by Outside Centre, an organisation in Wolverhampton concerned with disability access to the Arts. This organisation were the driving force behind the hugely successful ‘Wolves in Wolves’ public art trail in 2017. Alex Vann, founder of RAW, decorated the ‘Support Life’ wolf which is concerned with Suicide Prevention and mental well-being. The wolf gives it’s name to the exhibition. 

Designs for the Support Life wolf

Support Life Call for Submissions

​We put a call out for submissions to the exhibition on social media and by word of mouth for example at our ongoing workshops and by attending events that were around mental well being. 
​We set up a dedicated Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SupportLifeExhibition/
so could share the stories of the artworks, artists and exhibition updates.
​
32 artists submitted work -which was a mixture of drawings, painting, prints, tattoo designs, sculpture, poetry, video and performance. Here is a small selection:

A poem written by Wolverhampton Poet Laureate Emma Purshouse

This banner links to the YouTube channel of Arun Kapur, a Wolverhampton poet and film maker. He has made a series of videos called 'Time To Talk' about the issue of mental well being

​The exhibition also included a signposting section to agencies that are dedicated to suicide prevention

The exhibition was opened officially by the Mayor of Wolverhampton and a percentage of sales went to The Mayors Charities which is 2019-20 were  

• The University of Wolverhampton Alumni Scholarship Fund and
• Wolverhampton Suicide Prevention Stakeholders Forum.

You can donate to the charities here: https://www.paypal.com/gb/fundraiser/112574636177901026/charity/3757861

Key Dates
Exhibition dates 5 – 30 November 2019.
Dates of events & workshops:
 
8.11.19: Official Launch event by Mayor of Wolves, Clarie Darke. MCee’d by local actor / theatre leader Tonia Daley-Campbell / with performances by local poet: Brendan Hawthorne and musician Alex Vann plus testimonials by some of the exhibiting artists.

Wonderful new artworks created by the public at our free workshops

12.11.19: Honesty Portraits Workshop: designing and painting a 3D mask which reflects how you REALLY feel – not a surface ‘I’m ok’ (the concept for ‘Honesty Portraits’ originally came from some work I’d seen by Becky Lawley a young artist who struggles with mental health problems. She and her sister (12) both had work in the Support Life exhibition).
 
16.11.19: Design a ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ poster: Using the NHS initiative as a basis for drawing / writing / telling others what YOU will do to improve your mental well-ness: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
 
23.11.19 : Design a Wolves in Wolves ‘Support Life’ wolf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolves_in_Wolves  
http://www.wolvesinwolves.co.uk/artists/about/wolf10.html (the original wolf design by Alex Vann)

27.11.19: Performance evening: Hosted by Alex Vann, included performances by Billy Spakemon / Brendan Hawthorne and The Dissenters. The Dissenters are a group of vulnerably housed people who attend a drop in centre at SIFA Fireside in Birmingham, https://www.sifafireside.co.uk/

The link to this exhibition is Rich McMahon http://www.richmcmahon.com/ . Rich was a professional musician who was also in a musical partnership with Alex Vann. Rich worked closely with SIFA Fireside, using music as a positive force and often organising public performances with the service users. 

​Rich McMahon took his own life on May 18th 2015 aged 42.
 
Alex continued the work with SIFA Fireside, the group eventually renaming themselves Dissenters after the title of a song written by Rich. The group has a changeable line up and John Napier now continues the work with the group who perform a wide range of songs, some original, and sometimes playing Rich’s music – to keep his legacy alive.
 
Alex Vann’s ‘Support Life’ wolf  - now positioned at University of Wolverhampton - has plinth panel dedicating the work to Rich McMahon.
 

Photo of Rich McMahon © Justyna Bansal

Sketches made by renown local artist Clare Wassermann at the Support Life Performance evening on 27th November 2019

Videos from the Performance Evening are available on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmuIArtxp_fjuz5x-Msuh_A/featured?view_as=subscriber
 
We know the exhibition had direct impact on individuals because of:

• Things that were written in the comments books
• Messages left on the Tree of Hope
• A message  from one person who saw a particular artwork on Facebook and themselves made a ‘call for help’ in a time of crisis
• We have evidence of public engagement with new work created and displayed during the exhibition
• Press coverage in Express and Star, particularly around the work with HMP Oakwood.

• Also, the Mayor told us directly that the exhibition had realised its aim of raising awareness and (Alex Vann) was awarded a certificate by City of Wolverhampton council for his work around suicide prevention.

 
Exact numbers of people attending are difficult to quantify, however:
We have 70 tags on the tree – (obviously not everyone who visited would write one)
And 34 comments in the book.

​40% of sales from artworks would go to the Mayor’s charities.
In addition, Ben Vann (nephew of Alex and owner of a tattoo shop) designed some Support Life tattoos and 50% proceeds from people having these were donated to the charity.

Poster for 'Support Life' tattoos by Ben Vann

COMMENTS BOOK SELECTION:
 

• What a brilliant job you’ve done: bringing so many different people together to share their experiences and solidarity.

 

• Quite inspirational – people’s views on their mental health and how they express themselves.

• This exhibition has been wonderfully put together. Such thought provoking pieces, candour and creative expression. It’s incredibly encouraging to see and read these artworks. Thanks to everyone exhibiting – as a suicide attempt survivor I’m very moved and happy to see such open dialogue. 

 

• So expressive and meant a lot having dealt with these problems with my late husband it certainly brought it home to me. It was certainly out of the Darkness into the light for me. Thank you for your powerful sentiments so brilliantly done.

 

• Great work on the exhibition ! It was interesting to see how each of the artists expressed the themes of the exhibition in a very different way. Hopefully people in need of support will find solace in knowing the artists struggle with these negative feelings as well they are not alone.

 

• AMAZING EXHIBITION : Opened my eyes to how different people are affected by different things, how they express how they feel. Keep up the amazing work guys.

 

• Thought provoking exhibition, which illustrates to me that many of us (perhaps most) live life “keeping the lid on” anxiety and depression; sometimes caused without knowing why we feel such a condition.

 

• Interesting exhibition as I attempted suicide this summer, makes me think what damage I would have left behind and what mum and colleagues would have had to deal with.  Encouraging.

 

• What a lovely warm vibe tonight – loved the way it brought so many people together. And the exhibition is moving and thought provoking. Important we learn about these stories. Brings hope
• A lot of people do hide behind a smile, it is good to communicate with one another and be open because we all at times need one another.

 

• Brilliant! Work that comes from the heart! Keep fighting, keep being creative, keep embracing your dark and bright sides and communicating with the audience, the people.

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