A! Magazine for the Arts Archive

The Big Read: Exploring Creativity and Mental Illness

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before." — from "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

In This Issue

• Taking the Fear & Misunderstanding Out of Mental Illness When the Barter Theatre staff began planning for a new community Big Read, they decided to focus on the poems and stories of Edgar Allan Poe — but with a twist.
• Mental Illness: "In Our Own Voice" In conjunction with The Big Read, A! Magazine decided to explore the theme of Creativity and Mental Illness by interviewing an artist who is trained in the program "In Our Own Voice" that will be presented during The Big Read.
• What Others Are Saying In addition, A! Magazine asked living artists to talk about deceased artists who became famous despite, or because of, their mental illnesses.
• Other Famous Artists Who Suffered from Mental Illnesses From the National Alliance of Mental Illness Information Helpline: Information about famous people throughout history who have had a serious mental illness.
• Books About Creativity & Mental Illness
• Youth Spotlight: Actor/Playwright Ryan Gray "The dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."

A! Extra

• Deadlines for April 2011 Print Edition Not too early to plan March advertising and event coverage in A! Magazine.
• "Are you sure we are awake?' Shakespeare's Midsummer forest is typically populated with dainty, winged sprites that flit about, carrying out their fairy queen and king's whims.
• Knoxville Music Director Wins Grammy award Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Music Director Lucas Richman won his first Grammy Award at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 13, 2011....
• A Pirate Adventure at Barter Theatre Yo, ho, ho! Barter Theatre is settin' sail for the pirate adventure of a lifetime with "Treasure Island!" Shiver me timbers, young Jim Hawkins is seeking buried treasure and facing dangerous pirates at the State Theatre of Virginia.
• 'Round the Mountain Artisan Jury Sessions Set In order to have work considered, artisans must be residents of Southwest Virginia and a current member of `Round the Mountain.
• Bristol Gallery Raises $9,000 for Charities The Benjamin Walls Gallery in Bristol was officially open for less than two months in 2010, yet raised more than $9,000 for local charities.
• Barter Theatre Unveils "Shaping of America" Playwrights across the country, as well as locals, are invited to participate in Barter Theatre's new series, The Shaping of America.
• Arts Commission TV Series Wins Regional Emmy "Creative License," the Tennessee Arts Commission funded broadcast media project, was recently recognized with a 2010 Regional Emmy Award.
• Call for Arts Advocacy
• Movie's Bristol References Don't Hurt
• VI Faculty Member Presents at National Symposium Amy Oblinger, music instructor, choir director and chaplain at Virginia Intermont College, was accepted to present at the National Symposium of Multicultural Music.