BREAKTHROUGH - ArtPrize 2015

BREAKTHROUGH is a community-powered ArtPrize entry in the form of a large mosaic, but also a social initiative that hopes to stimulate a community conversation and challenge the stigma surrounding mental wellness and mental health treatment. Created by Psychotherapists Laura Bennett and Randy Flood, as well as artist Mark Bird, BREAKTHROUGH blends community engagement with artistic expression by

asking community members to supply the pieces for the mosaic by becoming "breakers", symbolizing the restorative promise of embracing one's authentic self (free of stigma, judgement or social social disgrace). The artists will collect the pieces of the community's broken ceramics, pottery, bottles, etc., and build a large, culminating mosaic that will be on display during ArtPrize 2015. The project will happen in three stages, or "phases". First, community members are invited to attend "breaking sessions", where they are supervised as they smash things (literally: ceramics, bottles and/or symbolic mementos) ritualizing the release, letting go, or expression of emotions meaningful to them. The team will collect the community's broken pieces and arrange them into an original, community-powered mosaic, designed by the artist, to be representative of the rebirth, or BREAKTHROUGH vision and to be displayed at Art Prize, 2015.