Wed 10/19-Fri 10/21
Cleveland-based artist Derek Hess is known around the world for everything from concert posters to politically charged fine art pieces. However, it wasn’t until last year’s documentary Forced Perspective that audiences and fans learned about Hess’ struggles with alcoholism and bipolar disorder.
That’s when Hess decided to use his position to bring attention to mental health; however, he wasn’t sure of the right venue. Then later this summer, he conceived, along with the help of his business partner Martin Geramita, the three-day arts fest ACTING OUT! This mental health awareness affair takes place Wed 10/19-Fri 10/21 in the Gordon Square Arts District.
The five-event series, which is sponsored in part by the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County (ADAMHS) with a portion of the proceeds to benefit nonprofit NAMI Greater Cleveland, runs the gamut: comedy, Wed 10/19 @ 8pm at the Happy Dog; talk, Thu 10/20 @ 8PM at the Happy Dog; film, Thu 10/20 @ 8:30pm at the Capitol Theatre; art, Fri 10/21 @ 5pm at Derek Hess Gallery in the 78th Street Studios; and music – Fri 10/21 @ 9pm at the Happy Dog.
CoolCleveland talked to Hess about ACTING OUT!
How long have you been thinking about creating an arts festival around mental health awareness?
We know so many people who are dealing with depression or bipolar or addiction or dual addictions, which is mental illness and addiction. So we figured why don’t we do this? I suffer from bipolar and that’s how Marty got aware of it the hard way. (laughs) So we decided to put this together. I think it’ll be fun and educational at the same time.
What’s the idea about adding the different arts elements?
Number one, we didn’t want overload someone with something that was boring. There are different mediums that one or another person might be interested in. So they won’t go to the movie but they’ll hear a comic or they’ll listen to the discussion with our panel, which is going to be pretty good. We’ve got Dr. Joseph Calabrese from the University Hospital’s Mood Disorder Program. He also lectures around the country and internationally about creativity and mental illness, and how they work with each other. The art show features artists either suffering from mental illness, addiction or dual diagnosis. And the music has several bands from Cleveland performing original music with a tribute dedicated to musicians who battled with mental health or addiction.
How did your award-winning documentary Forced Perspective influence ACTING OUT!?
The movie was a catalyst. I was talking to people and would say I’m bipolar. I don’t think twice about it. It’s like everybody has something. Some people have diabetes, some have cancer, some can’t quit smoking, and some have a mental issue. People were like, “Wow, I can’t believe you talked about being bipolar among other things.” And I’m thinking, to me it’s not that big of a deal. We saw the response and people were like “Wow.” So we thought we should talk about this.
Do you think there’s still a mental health stigma in society?
I think with some people but that’s part of the event to educate them. I was first diagnosed with depression in the early ’90s. And nobody talked about it until that’s all anyone talked about. Then I got diagnosed with bipolar, and my doctor was like, “Why don’t you talk about it?” I said, “It’s not cool to talk about that. It’s cool to talk about depression.” And then I found out more people were bipolar. At that point I thought, “What’s the big deal?”
What do you hope people take away from ACTING OUT!
I think they’ll take away that it’s not the end of the world. I suffer from it, and I know a ton of people who suffer from it. I know lots of people who aren’t diagnosed that suffer from it. Maybe this will help them seek help. They’ll go see a doctor and say, “I’m feeling like this. What’s it about?” And it’s really not that big of a deal but people have made it a big deal. It’s OK to talk about it because so many people deal with it. Decades ago people were getting diagnosed with manic depression. That’s bipolar. Manic depression sounds bad and it was. People were fearful of it and had shame about it. It’s not like that anymore.
Is it safe to say ACTING OUT! will be an annual affair?
We’re going to see. That’s the plan. If this goes well it will be an annual thing and we’ll just build on this making it bigger next year.
Cleveland, OH 44102
Cleveland, OH 44102