February 2020 Art Walk at Make.shift Gallery: 

“Always Look on The Bright Side of Mental Illness”

For the month of February Make.shift will offer Bellingham the opportunity to “stick their tongues out to distress.” We aim to explore the jovial comradery that is created by a chemical imbalance. We called out to artists in the community to share work inspired by living with mental illnesses, with a comedically defiant twist. As many of us here in Washington state can relate to mental illness, most of us can probably identify with the utter absurdity of the obstacles associated with mental illness. The lighthearted, sometimes silly acceptance of the realities we face, oftentimes guide us through what can be otherwise devastating.   

Make.shift welcomes guest curator, Jimena Berzal de Dios, for this exhibition. Jimena is an associate professor of Art History at Western Washington University. Her work explores connections between visual arts, philosophy, and literature. Her last publication was Visual Experiences in Cinquecento Theatrical Spaces, a book that studies Renaissance theatre architecture and design focusing on the spectators’ experiences. “Art and humor have always been reliable allies in my struggles with mental illness,” says Jimena, “and I hope to bring cheer and encouragement to our community with this exhibition.” 

During February’s especially dark days, “join us in finding the humorous and joyful that hides behind the turmoil and gloom.”

If you are struggling with mental illness, please know there are people who can help. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a list of resources available on their website: nami.org/Find-Support. We love you and you are not alone.