Independent Arts and Minds is a new organization that is currently running weekly creative sessions for adults living in Dereham, England who are suffering from stress, anxiety and/or depression.
A team of professional community artists with a wide range of specialist areas including sculpture, film and performance lead the friendly, informal drop-in sessions.
Some of the work produced will be showcased in public exhibitions, performances and screenings, providing an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues in the community, break down stigma, and promote the role of creativity in helping people to recover from mental ill health and stay well.
The project also aims to collaborate with other community groups in both making and exhibiting work, thus reducing the isolation people suffering from mental ill health are known to experience particularly in rural areas.
James Mortram is a Carer and Social Documentary Photographer in the East of England. Second Place World Digital Photographer of the Year 2009. Published and exhibited in UK, featured in the Guardian newspaper and the BBC Website. See more of Jim’s work on Flickr by clicking here. We also want to credit Tilney 1, a member of Independent Arts and Minds, the subject of Jim’s portraits above, and the creator of the artwork above. Please see more of Tilney 1’s work on Flickr by clicking here.
We’re glad to have Jim here as our guest. When he told us that he and the IAM group are working on a new project involving “mutual documentary photography”, we invited him back to have its premiere showing here on aamora. Watch for it!
Such honest and meaningful work James. Your photos evoke a deep underlying truth.
Such endearing people! Great story and art work. And your photos speak more than athousand words
I love the “look” of this work…James Mortram certainly has a talent for creating his own perspective on his subject.
Excellent project! I must confess to a little bit of uneasiness with the subject matter as I’ve had my own personal glimpse of their world. Sometimes we must be removed from our comfort zone to become more aware. I wish you much success with this program.
Great shots, great work, great projects and great people!
Great work! There is a wonderful photographer on JPG who is involved with exactly this kind of work. His screen name there is pdbberlin. Perhaps the connection could be useful to both. Kudos again on the essay, and on what you are doing.
Great work. I love that shot where he’s holding the pencil or brush…it says so much…as does his artwork and his upward glances. Lovely series. Thanks.
Blow me, I’ve gone arse over elbow for this photo essay. It’s the dog’s bollocks. Jolly good show mate. Simply smashing don’t you know.
Toodles.
Great stuff!
Most interesting and worthwhile project, illustrated with great images.I do feel that art in any form is therapeutic on many levels. Thankyou James for bringing this to aamora and I look forward to hearing more about it here.
James, these are images are powerful and speak to me. The portraits have a Diane Arbus feel about them. Nice work.
It makes me greatful
for what I have
Thank you
Sounds like a great program James. Thanks for sharing this all of us. More importantly, thanks for making the lives of others just that much more rewarding.