Beautiful Distress was founded in 2014 on the concept that there is a great deal of mental suffering, that not enough people are aware of this and that not enough is done to stop it. The Foundation uses art in an attempt to open up the world of psychiatry and battle the stigma attached to it. Why art? Beautiful Distress believes that art is pre-eminently capable of articulating and depicting the human condition.
In 2015, RU and Beautiful Distress entered into a partnership. Over the course of the year three dutch artists will spend a maximum of three months in the Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn and, inspired by the patients, the staff and the environment there, they will produce art that reflects their experiences. This unique residency initiative aims to de-stigmatize mental illness through artistic initiative in psychiatric settings
In residency from March to May, 2015 Aldo van den Broek was the first artist to be placed at the hospital. His residency culminated with a panel discussion in June 2015. Guest speakers will include Wilco Tuinebreijer , founder of Beautiful Distress and Carlos Rodriguez Perez, Director of the Wellness and Recovery Division at the Behavioral Health Service, Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn.
The second artist, Christiaan Bastiaans will be in residency from August – October, 2015. His residency culminated in the RU Talk “Christiaan Bastiaans and Beautiful Distress.” Guest speakers included writer and art critic Paul Laster, Wilco Tuinebreijer , founder of Beautiful Distress and Carlos Rodriguez Perez, Director of the Wellness and Recovery Division at the Behavioral Health Service, KCHC.
For more information about their experience at KCHC, please visit:
– Aldo van den Broek: http://www.beautifuldistress.org/blog/r1vgql0kxc5ao2szj5hn8wi30o35pj?rq=aldo
http://www.beautifuldistress.org/blog/hhp6p7xr13n98t4hlb49cxb6z08pv9?rq=aldo
– Christiaan Bastiaans: http://www.beautifuldistress.org/blog/your-attitude-has-changed-by-christiaan-bastiaans-2015?rq=christiaan
http://www.beautifuldistress.org/blog/interview-with-artist-christiaan-bastiaans-about-beautiful-distress?rq=christiaan
http://www.beautifuldistress.org/your-attitude-has-changed-by-christiaan-bastiaans-2015/t81c9hcvuj9yq41uvnmygwfjzx6vi2
http://www.beautifuldistress.org/blog/a-successful-artist-talk
