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Shedding Light on Mental Illness Through Pottery

screen-shot-2016-11-11-at-10-43-07-amNorthwest Vista College faculty member, Diana Kersey and her colleague, Kambri Hernandez, took part in Luminaria on Nov. 11 at The Carver Community Cultural Center.

They presented “Create. Collapse. Create.” It’s a performance work inspired by the perseverance, struggles, and successes of loved ones who live with a mental health disorder. The performance involves working glowing clay and water illuminated by UV lighting on a pottery kick wheel until it becomes precariously thin, out of balance, and ultimately collapses.

They then removed the clay from the wheel, prepare the same clay in order to repeat the process throughout the four-hour performance. To create a vessel, work it until it collapses, and then to persevere by creating it again mirrors the daily struggle of mental illness. The performance ended with a beautiful vessel, representing all that is learned and endured during the process.

Since March 2008, San Antonio artists have created theatrical and dance performances, film screenings, light projections, creative demonstrations, live music ranging from garage bands to orchestras in downtown San Antonio.

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