Santa Barbara, CA – A new documentary profiling three artists with schizophrenia has premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).
"Crazy Art" tells the story of three schizophrenic artists from Santa Barbara, California. The film follows their lifelong struggle with mental illness and examines their search for identity, acceptance and recovery through their unique and thought provoking art.
Their normal childhoods were soon shattered with the onset of schizophrenia. Not understanding the delusions and seemingly constant bombardment of negative voices in their heads, they turned to drugs and alcohol in an attempt to find inner peace through self destructive behavior and suicide attempts.
Each of them has taken a different path to get to where they are today. However they all share the common bond of finding their only solace by creating art. 'Without art, I wouldn't be alive,' is voiced by all three. Art provides them with the satisfaction of creation, the ability to 'push the voices aside,' and the chance to have an identity previously stolen by their illness.
But art isn't the panacea. It is not the cure. All three artists continue their battle with schizophrenia. They still hear voices and 'channel messages from a higher power.' They need strong medication. They still battle addictive tendencies. They still have manic and psychotic episodes. The support of their friends, families and admirers make up the crucial network of relationships that together, with their art, provide the only hope of recovery.
The "Crazy Art" DVD will go on sale in March. For more information, contact J.T. Turner, jt@phoenixofsb.org.
