Fine Line                                                                              (Scroll down for Train Display information)
Mental Health/Mental Illness
A documentary of voices, stories and portraits that confronts stereotypes
and reveals the courage and fragility of those with mental illnesses.
Michael Nye - Photographer
November 14 - December 20, 2008

 

Photographer Michael Nye spent four years traveling the United States photographing and making audio recordings of people sharing their stories of living with mental illness.  Schizophrenia, depression, obsessive-compulsive, anxiety and bi-polar disorders were among the experiences addressed by the individuals.  In simple and eloquent detail the 50 black-and-white portraits and voices draw you closer into each life by addressing and exploring many topics: family, confusion, pain, abuse, treatment and healing.  These deeply personal stories take us inside complicated issues where empathy and understanding begin, and each face invites you to listen.
 

There is a rich history that is unique in American photography addressing social issues yet handled masterfully: Lewis Hine's photographs of 19th century children working in factories, the Farm Security Administration photographers documenting the plight of farmers during the Great Depression up to Larry Clark's Tulsa series.  These were extremely difficult subjects, yet handled with ethos and dignity.  Michael's work is part of that rich heritage.  Michael’s beautiful portraits represent textures, details and warmth that can only be conveyed through large format photography, bringing the viewer closer to the subject, closer to understanding the Fine Line between mental health and mental illness.

 

Each Thursday and Saturday during the Fine Line exhibition, mental health experts in the Wichita County area will present current information on various mental illnesses at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art.  Saturdays will focus on mental disorders in children while Thursdays will deal primarily with adult disorders, although many disorders occur throughout the lifespan.  During these two-hour weekly session and daily at the museum, experts and volunteers will be available for information and discussions of interest to parents, mental health professionals and others.

 

November 7, 1:30 - 3:30, Gallery 5
Eli Lilly Dual Diagnosis Lecture by Dr. Judy Graham

 

November 13, 8:30 - 11:00 am, Gallery 5
Fine Line Faith Leaders Breakfast

 

November 15, 1:00 -2:30 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Grief, Loss and Bereavement – Dr. C. Revis

 

November 20, 5:30-7:00 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Depression – Dr. J Dismukes

 

November 21, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Ethics Workshop – Michael Nye and L. Hartje

 

November 22, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – ADHD and ADD – Dr. H Martin

 

November 29, 1:00 – 2:30 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Cutting and Self Destructive Behavior – Dr. L. Ovaert
 

December 4, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Substance Abuse and Addiction – Dr. H. Sanchez-Leal

 

December 6, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Autism and Asperger’s Disorder – Dr. F. Del Rio

 

December 11, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Schizophrenia – Dr. B. Weick

 

December 12, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – Dr. A Suris

 

December 13, 1:00 – 2:30 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Eating Disorders – Dr. T. Fassihi

 

December 18, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture - Anxiety Disorders – Dr. A. Butera

 

December 20, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, Gallery 5

Fine Line Lecture – Suicide – Dr. I. Parsons

  

Fine Line partners in Wichita Falls are WFMA, Helen Farabee Regional MHMR Centers, Rose Street Mental Health Care, North Texas State Hospital, Midwestern State University’s College of Health Sciences and Human Services, the United Way of Wichita Falls, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Red River Hospital with support from Lilly, The Priddy Foundation, Red River Recovery Center and the Wichita Falls Community Foundation.  The Honorable David Farabee is serving as Honorary Chair for the exhibition.


The committee members for the Fine Line exhibition at WFMA are: Roddy Atkins, Lynn Hartje and Connie Johnston of the Helen Farabee MHMR Center, Dr. Kim Robinson of MSU, David Sabine of Rose Street Mental Health care, Tonye Shirey of the North Texas State Hospital Volunteer Services Council, Diana Phillips and Jason Brewer of the United Way, Jean Puckett of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Yvonne Downs and Lori Brewer of Red River Hospital, Jamie Davis of Red River Recovery, Cohn Drennan and Mary Helen Maskill of WFMA and Sandra K. Ross.


The Fine Line Lecture Series schedule is also posted on the WFMA web site calendar.

North Texas State Hospital

The Wood Group

Santa's Express
                                                                November 1, 2008 - January 10, 2009
                                                                                                       Thursdays and Fridays at 6:00 and 7:00 pm
                                                                                                         Saturdays at 2:00, 3:00, 6:00 and 7:00 pm
                                                                                          Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day
                                                                           Adults and children 6 and up $3.00 - Ages 5 and under are free.
                                                                                   Additional times and pricing are available for group shows.
                                                                                                               Please call 940-692-0923 to schedule.


Art in Public Places 2008
The Wichita Falls Museum of Art is an important cultural resource for North Texas communities.  The museum is accountable to the public it serves and has an obligation to be responsive to the region’s changing educational needs.  In an effort to better serve the more than 400,000 people who live within 60 miles of Wichita Falls and to provide opportunities of life long learning for its patrons, the Wichita Falls Museum of Art is sharing part of its Permanent Collection with county and city Public Libraries of the North Texas region.

 

The inaugural Art in Public Places 2008 project will tour eight mini-exhibitions of fine art prints of US Presidents to the residents of North Texas who may not be able to easily access and utilize the facilities of the Wichita Falls Museum of Art.  To date, the public libraries that will be participating this summer will be in Archer City, Bowie, Burkburnett, Electra, Henrietta, Iowa Park, Jacksboro, Nacona, Olney, Seymour and Vernon.

A preview of the eight mini-exhibitions comprising Art in Public Places 2008 opened April 1, 2008 at Wichita Falls Museum of Art at Midwestern State University.  For more information about the exhibition or to become a partner in the Art in Public Places 2008 project, please call 940-692-0923 or e-mail wfma@mwsu.edu.

This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the
state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.


For more information about  John Kingerlee, A Painter's Passage or Art in Public Places please call the museum at 940-692-0923. 
Museum hours are Mon-Fri 9:30 - 5:00, Thur 9:30 - 7:00 and Sat 10:30 - 5:00.