September 17, 2014
Rendezvous with Madness and The Department of Psychiatry at U of T
Co-Present a Special Screening:
William Kurelek’s The Maze
October 8, 2014 – 7 p.m.
TIFF Bell Lightbox, Reitman Square, 350 King St. West
MindFest Film Screening
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and can be purchased online by visiting Mindfest.ca or
https://tytix.tiff.net/scripts/max/10.17.40.32-35000/maxweb.exe.
William Kurelek’s The Maze is a timeless film about an artist, his creations, his inner demons and the external influences – both good and bad – that shaped his work. The feature length documentary is dramatically told through Kurelek’s paintings and his on-camera revelations. It takes an intimate look into the life of one of the 20th century’s most fascinating artists, his struggles with attempted suicide and a self-professed “spiritual crisis.” Kurelek describes The Maze as “a painting of the inside of my skull which I painted while in England as a patient in Maudsley and Netherne psychiatric hospitals.”
“I am delighted that the film is part of MindFest 2014. It demonstrates the power of art for individuals dealing with mental illness and is crucial to the understanding of how art plays a role in the understanding and recovery. This film is truly a Canadian gem as well as integral to eliminating discrimination and prejudice against people living with mental illness,” said Lisa Brown, Workman Arts Executive Artistic Director and Rendezvous with Madness Founder.
The following guests have been confirmed for the panel discussion:
Moderator:
Allan Peterkin MD is Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at the University of Toronto, where he heads the Program in Health, Arts and Humanities (www.health-humanities.com) He is the author of 10 books on medicine, cultural history and sexuality, and three bestselling picture books for children (www.adpeterkin.com).
Panelists:
Anna Hudson PhD is an art historian, curator, writer and educator specializing in Canadian art and visual culture. Formerly associate curator of Canadian Art at the Art Gallery of Ontario, she brings to her academic practice extensive hands-on experience in curation. Dr. Hudson is currently leading a major Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Partnership Grant project titled “Mobilizing Inuit Cultural Heritage: a multi-media/multi-platform re-engagement of voice in visual art and performance.”
Stephen Kurelek is the second eldest of William Kurelek’s four children. He currently resides in Ottawa with his teacher wife and two young children. He turns 50 this year which is how old his father was when he died. Over the years, the second question he is typically asked (after is William Kurelek your father?) is whether he inherited any of his father’s artistic talent. Alas, Stephen says the answer is no.
Iryna Soluk-Figol M.A(Th) is a Chaplain at St. Michael’s Hospital with over 10 years of experience in providing spiritual care to patients, family and staff in the Mental Health unit and now working in Trauma-Neurosurgery Program. She is interested in the effects of trauma on development of worldview and spirituality. Iryna was born and raised in Lviv, Ukraine, and studied in Poland and Canada. She now resides with her husband Fr. Andrew Figol and their two children in Toronto.
Lisa Walter is a visual artist; she’s currently working on a full-length graphic memoire, Dinosaur (www.lisawalter.net/dinosaur). She has participated in several Rendezvous festivals, as a visual and media artist, and panelist. The Globe and Mail has described her work as “delicate and unsparing.”
Lisa is the 2014 Visual Artist in Residence at Workman Arts.
Filmmakers Nick and Zack Young
Brothers Nick & Zack Young are filmmakers and musicians who run their own visual effects studio based in Los Angeles, California called MachinEyes. Together, they produced, animated and scored William Kurelek’s The Maze. Their father, filmmaker Robert M. Young, and his associate David Grubin directed the original film in 1969. More information on the film can be found a www.themazemovie.com.
Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival (RWM) is a signature event of Workman Arts, produced annually in Toronto since 1993. The first festival of its kind in the world, and currently the largest, Rendezvous with Madness was co-founded by Kathleen Fagan and Workman Arts’ Executive/Artistic Director Lisa Brown. The Festival investigates the facts and mythologies surrounding mental illness and addiction as presented by both Canadian and international filmmakers, as well as by visual and media-based artists. The festival provides filmmakers and artists with opportunities to exhibit work that may not otherwise be seen; facilitates discussion between artists and audiences on these cinematic and media representations; and increases awareness of, and advocacy for, mental health and addiction issues among the broader public.
Workman Arts (WA) is the longest-running multidisciplinary arts and mental health organizations in North America. WA facilitates aspiring, emerging and established artists with mental illness and addiction issues to develop and refine their art form through its arts training programs, public performance/exhibit opportunities and partnering with other art organizations. As well, WA promotes a greater public understanding of mental illness and addiction through the creation, presentation and discussion of artistic media. Workman Arts thanks their patrons Her Excellency Sharon Johnston, C.C. and Dr. Barbara Dorian & Dr. Paul Garfinkel, and is a proud partner of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
MindFest aims to promote public awareness, dialogue, and understanding about mental health and illness. This free event held at Hart House raises awareness about mental health issues, highlights the support systems available to those who need them, and helps to erase mental health stigma. MindFest has fun exhibit booths, guest speakers, interactive workshops, yoga/mindfulness, giveaways and more! We are proud to partner with Hart House.
Media – for further information:
Workman Arts
Rendezvous With Madness
Mindfest 2014
MindFest 2014
