Fine Line
San Antonio , Texas
Start Date
2004
Brief Description
Fine Line is a documentary of voices, stories, and portraits that confront stereotypes and reveal the courage and fragility of those living with mental illnesses. The traveling multimedia exhibition, created by photographer Michael Nye, was completed in 2004 and had its debut opening at the Witte Museum in San Antonio, Texas.
Situation
Mental illness is too wide, deep, and complex to define. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the standard reference for psychiatry in the United States, includes over 300 different manifestations of mental illnesses. For many, it is painful to be labeled and misunderstood. Today, thousands of individuals with mental illnesses do not have financial support for care and treatment.
Solution
Photographer Michael Nye spent 4 years photographing and recording stories. He compiled 55 black-and-white portraits and 55 audio stories. Mounted between each portrait is a wooden box containing an audio player and instructions. The viewer can listen to each story with headphones. The stories range from 4 to 6 minutes each. Fine Line asks each person viewing the exhibit to listen carefully, throw away their old definitions of mental illness, and start over. The exhibit addresses schizophrenia, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorders, and many other illnesses while exploring topics such as family, confusion, pain, abuse, treatment, and healing.
Results
Fine Linehas traveled to over 40 cities. Many sites have used this exhibit as the centerpiece for lectures, school field trips, panel discussions, educational material, fundraising, radio programs and other community activities.
Contact
For more information on Fine Line, including rental prices and availability, contact Michael Nye; phone: 210–476–0497; e-mail: michaelnye@aol.com
; Web site: www.michaelnye.org/fineline/.
To view the exhibit click here.
Type
National