Over the summer of 2008, ten newcomers to digital photography, each with their own personal experience of mental illness, learned to use Nikon Cool Pix L14 cameras and set out to capture images that reflected their thoughts about work.
From their hundreds of photos, each photographer chose 2-5 images for the exhibit and prepared their personal stories, or narratives, to explain each image. The group then collectively organized the pieces and identified four themes: Barriers to Work, Stigma and Discrimination, What Helps to Support Work and Mental Health, and Hopes and Aspirations for Work. Their work was first exhibited at the IPO Gallery in Ottawa for a month in January 2009.
For bios of the photographers, click here.
The Working with the Whole Picture- Phase One images with their narratives are available for purchase. Images are unframed, open edition prints in matte finish and are available in 3 sizes. A bilingual coffee table book of the photos and narratives is also for sale. All proceeds from the sales go back into sustaining the non-profit public awareness initiatives of this project.
Orders must be pre-paid and can be made by mail, phone, email or fax. See the order forms for more details.
Section One: Barriers to Work
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Cane and DoorPhotographer: AndréeMy cane symbolizes my physical limitations to work. My door symbolizes my psychological disabilities (including agoraphobia). Every time I get out, it is a victory. These barriers make finding and maintaining a job nearly impossible.
Unpaid work is an avenue to opportunity to contribute, even if I have a disability. It doesn't carry the same set of rigid on-going responsibilities as paid work. -
Access DeniedPhotographer: CandyroseThis is part of an advertisement for a cell phone but I focused on these three words, "no system access". Why can't peer support and vocational support be essential, as well as housing and therapeutic supports? As a society we must address this deficit of services. When we help build people up they will rise up to that help! Accessibility to services is the only way to gain (in my case) or regain mental health. Together we can build a healthy community where no one has to be ashamed of accessing help.
I am healthy now, physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I know I am one of the fortunate few to access the limited resources available. -
BricksPhotographer: HarryThis photo symbolizes what happens to me in a job interview. It reminds me that my disability is not invisible, not when searching for work, at least. Under the scrutiny of a job interview, a few broken bricks inevitably appear and an opportunity is lost.
After going through the application process and finally getting to meet the employer, feelings of nervousness and apprehension make me stand out as much as the broken bricks do. Job interviews are barriers to employment that I can't get past. -
TracksPhotographer: HarryLike this set of tracks fallen into disuse, so can our competitive job market switch off people with disabilities. As time passes, skills get rusty, making hunting for a job more difficult. -
Where is the Other Boot?Photographer: MaryWithout a job you can only afford one boot.
Has unemployment left this person with only one boot? Is the other foot still stuck in the mud of unemployment? I could not find the other boot anywhere, not even in the garbage. Has someone lost something? Gotten lost on the way? Lost sense of self, lost value, lost worth? What happened to them? -
Rotting AwayPhotographer: MaryThis is a dying Dutch elm tree that the City has patched with cement. I feel like that tree - rotting away because of unemployment. I have feelings of uselessness, waiting to fall. My self worth deteriorates more and more. The government gives "us" (disability clients) botched attempts at recovery with dead end jobs. Temporary employment is like this cement, only a band-aid fix.
Someone thought the tree was worth saving! Yes, I am worth saving, for I have lots to contribute to society. I just need an opportunity to prove myself. Diagnosis: Keep standing tall. Do not bend or fall over in the wind. -
Fuzzy MedsPhotographer: ShaughnessyThis is a picture of all my daily medications. They're worth more than $500 a month. It's hard to afford if you work part-time, or if you have a probationary period with an employer. You can get meds on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), but if you make money then ODSP takes a large part of the money back.
Medication can also be a two-edged sword. You need to take it, if you want to get better. Unfortunately, you are then hit with side-effects, most annoying of which is making you very tired, preventing you from working late or early. And if you forget a dose, you lose focus, and sometimes get hit with other side-effects like anxiety or depression. -
Trash DeceptionPhotographer: TazCertain employment opportunities present themselves as great places to work, but beyond those bright colours you just need to look around and find what is real. Sometimes we apply knowing full well it is a commission only job; never-ending, aggressive selling that gets no results. We think it might be different for some reason or another, but we know it's too good to be true.
This garbage, filled with colourful items, looks nicely packaged but it's still trash and you know it. -
Pencil CrayonsPhotographer: ToniThis is a top view of the pencil crayons I used in my art work when I first started. I have started to use better pens and pencils but this is costly. So this picture signifies how difficult it is to have good quality art supplies when I have to live on a disability plan. If I want to sell my work I need the better supplies, but the money is not always there.
