Inspiring art exhibition by bipolar Stanley Lench comes to the Brindley Arts Centre in Runcorn

Oct 1 2009 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

AN EXCITING new art exhibition which centres around work created by Halton mental health patients is now under way at the Brindley Arts Centre.

Creative Minds, which has been arranged to coincide with World Mental Health Day, combines the work of artist Stanley Lench and that of patients at the Weaver Ward of the Brooker Centre, Runcorn.

Stanley, whose artwork has previously been purchased and displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, has himself struggled with a bipolar condition all of his life and received frequent hospital treatment.

He produced a large amount of his work as an in-patient, during art therapy sessions.

Patients on the Weaver Ward can now receive similar support from artists to express their emotions and feelings through artwork.

The exhibition will run until October and on Thursday, October 8 from 6pm, there will be open evening at which staff from the Weaver Creative Arts will be available to answer questions about the project.

Dave Trowbridge, who lent Stanley Lench’s work to the exhibition, will deliver a talk about his work on Thursday, October 15, from 6.30pm.

This will be followed by a dance performance.

For more information about Mental Health Care artwork contact Halton Borough Council’s art development officer Louise Hesketh on 0151 906 3737.

Stanley’s work can be bought from www.outsiderartonline.com