Conversations in Mad Matters (SAQA Virtual Gallery)

I'm Brandon Wulff, an artist driven by experimentation in quilting. Collaborating with designers, my unique pieces grace extraordinary homes. Highlights include the Marilyn Denis Show, Canadian Quilter Magazine features, and founding the Individual Members Coalition of the Modern Quilt Guild in 2020. My work, recognized in exhibitions and publications like Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Canadian House and Home Magazine, embraces a bold, experimental style. From "The R word and the S word" to "Visibly Mended," my quilts continue to captivate and push boundaries in the contemporary art scene. 

Formed in 1993, Mad Pride activists aim to reclaim terms such as "mad," "nutter," and "psycho" from their derogatory usage, particularly in tabloid newspapers, and transform these terms from negative labels into symbols of pride and empowerment. Through extensive mass media campaigns, Mad Pride activists work to re-educate the public about the causes of mental disabilities and the lived experiences of individuals within the mental health system.

In this exhibition, I focused on increasing awareness of art, mental health, and neurodiversity within the SAQA community. The participants, not limited to those whose works were displayed, overwhelmingly conveyed a sense of "coping through art." This sentiment was shared by individuals living with mental health conditions or neurodiverse experiences, as well as by families and partners supporting those individuals, and in many cases, by those facing multiple intersecting challenges.

The concept of "awareness" was articulated as a journey of self-discovery and a deeper understanding of oneself. Participants expressed a collective experience of moving beyond mere survival to thriving with their differences. The ultimate goal extends beyond visibility; it is about belonging and finding joy within the community.

Selected Artists:

Regula Affolter (Switzerland) - In the bubble-running ovations #116

Valerie Bledsoe (Washington, USA) - Enough

Anat David Artman (Israel) - Behind the patches

Stephanie Capps Dyke (Maryland, USA) - Disorder

Elizabeth Michellod-Dutheil (Switzerland) - CONFUSUS

Joyce King Ferrie (Florida, USA) - Broken Hearts Hope To Someday Bloom

Maggy Rozycki Hiltner (Montana, USA) - Heebee Jeebees

Mattea Jurin (Italy) - They lost their marbles

Patty Kennedy-Zafred (Pennsylvania, USA) - Back At It

Steph Kincade (Nova Scotia, Canada) - Anguish

Anne Kobus (Florida, USA) - They Tell Me to Calm Down

Marjorie Madsen (New Mexico, USA) - Goggle Girl Gallimaufry

Tracie L. Maryne (British Columbia, Canada) - Momentary Silence of Rage

Kathleen McCabe (California, USA) - What Next?

Angela C. McPherson (Wyoming, USA) - Military Teen

Stefanie Wilson Neuner (South Carolina, USA) - Autism Bipolar Comorbidity ABC ASD

Karen Ponischil (North Carolina, USA) - Open Wounds

Kat Puente (Oregon, USA) - Hug

Joann Self Selvidge (Tennessee, USA) - Neuroplasticity

Jean Sredl (Wisconsin, USA) - Polar and Bi - Episode II

Karin Tauber (Virginia, USA) - Dementia – The Same Story Syndrome

Karin von Lerber (Switzerland) - Aura

Anna Wagner-Ott (Ontario, Canada) - Pushing the Envelope