Exhibit at Kaviar Forge & Gallery explores mental health through art

The idea of artists as tortured souls is not a new construct, and certainly art and mental illness have been tied together since long before van Gogh cut off his ear. Of course not every artist is tortured, and not everyone with mental illness is an artist. Art, however, allows people to express their inner thoughts, desires and fears — and often those emotions dabble in the extremes.

Kaviar Forge & Gallery, which recently opened after being closed for renovations, is exploring art and mental health through its latest exhibit, titled “Touched with Fire,” named after an important book on the topic by Kay Redfield Jamison. More than 30 artists from Louisville and around the country have created pieces around this theme in various mediums — from painting and photography to watercolor and mixed media.

The juried group show was planned for this month because May is Mental Health Month, and the gallery will donate a portion of the show’s proceeds to Bridgehaven Mental Health Services. According to a press release, the gallery hopes to “educate the public, fight stigma and raise awareness of recovery services that support those touched by mental illness.”

The many pieces depict an array of mental disorders and the struggles of living with them. Highlights include Cheree Federico’s “Intrusion,” which refers to unwanted and persistent thoughts characteristic of disorders like OCD, depression, PTSD and ADHD; the mixed media assemblage by Alan Mill titled “Press on Regardless” featuring a dish of words like “anxiety,” “fear” and “worry”; Debra Lott’s “Lamentations,” which exemplifies the isolation many people with mental disorders feel; and Jacquelyn Marie Hamilton’s personal work “Aunt Treva,” in which she juxtaposes her self-portrait over that of her relative, who was sent to live in a sanatorium in 1915.

“Touched with Fire” continues through Aug. 6. An opening reception is planned for Friday, May 27, from 6-9 p.m. during the F.A.T. Friday Trolley Hop. Kaviar Forge & Gallery is located at 147 Stevenson Ave. in Clifton.