First, Leah Shapiro at The Laurel took an interest so Kelly Olshan wrote a great preview of the workshops. You can find that article here and look for a follow-up in July when the workshops are underway.
Thursday at 4 p.m., catch Griffin’s live radio interview with Jeff Messer at 880 The Revolution—Asheville’s Progressive Talk.
You can also now read more from Griffin about his vision for the project at his website.
Griffin Payne
NAMI Western Carolina is partnering with The Ariadne Theater Project to offer eight free workshops in theater arts and storytelling for anyone who has been affected by mental illness, including family and mental health professionals. The workshops will run Wednesdays from June 12 to July 31, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., in UNC-Asheville’s New Hall Room 103. Individuals can participate one evening or come for all eight sessions. Griffin Payne, the Project’s founder, is a thrilling poet, performer, and educator. He’s invested in sharing the tools of expression that helped save his life when he experienced mental illness. The Project’s aim is to help people explore and learn to share their stories, creating empowerment and visibility for a community that is often voiceless and invisible. For more info, write to namiwnc@yahoo.com or call (828) 505-7353.
Parking: The UNCA campus map can be viewed here. New Hall is shown as the blue building #12. We suggest using lot P27 (near the top right corner of the map). We’ve been assured that though this lot is not designated for visitors, it is available for our use after 5 p.m. If you arrive on campus before 5, please use lots P9 or P17 .
Directions to Parking Lot 27: MAP. Coming from downtown (or I-240) on Merrimon Ave., turn LEFT onto W.T. Weaver Blvd. at the intersection with Luella’s BBQ. At the roundabout in a half-mile, turn RIGHT onto University Heights, following signs for UNCA. Take University Heights to the top of the hill, where you must turn right or left. Go RIGHT onto Edgewood Rd. In 0.1 mile, turn LEFT back onto University Heights (confusing, we know). P27 is immediately on your LEFT. Walk SW to New Hall.
We are so inspired by the boundless imagination of our members that we made CREATIVITY the theme of our quarterly potluck. This Friday, we will gather to feast literally and metaphorically on the creations of our members.
Friday, June 7, 6 p.m.
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
789 Merrimon Ave. in Asheville
Bring a dish to share but dessert will be provided.
Make-your-own ice cream sundaes!
BRING SOMETHING YOU’VE MADE!
A craft
A song
A poem
A musical instrument to play a tune
An item from your favorite collection
Anything, really—be creative!
Questions? Contact Paulette Heck at (828) 581-0080 or pheck812@gmail.com
The Ariadne Theater Project and NAMI Western Carolina host a gathering to kickoff their upcoming series of free theater arts and storytelling workshops for the local mental health community. Workshop facilitator Griffin Payne will perform and lead interactive storytelling games so possible participants can get a sense of the workshop style.
WHEN: SUNDAY, MAY 26 3–5 p.m.
WHERE: The gazebo in The Botanical Gardens at Asheville, 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd.
WHAT: The voices of people affected by mental illness often go unheard. For this reason, The Ariadne Theater Project is offering eight free workshops in theater arts and storytelling for anyone who has been affected by mental illness, including loved ones of people with mental health issues and mental health professionals. The Wednesday workshops run June 12 to July 31 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in UNC Asheville’s New Hall Room 103. Individuals can participate one evening or come for all eight sessions. The underlying goal of The Ariadne Theater Project is to help participants explore their stories and learn to share those stories with a wider audience, creating opportunities of empowerment and visibility for a community that is largely voiceless and invisible
WHO: Griffin Payne, Founder and Artistic Director of The Ariadne Theater Project, is an internationally acclaimed poet, performer, and educator. As a survivor of mental illness, he is deeply invested in sharing the tools of expression that helped save his life. He is a UNC Asheville alumnus and was named 2011 Poet Laureate of The Radical Faeries, an international Queer collective. Echoing NAMI’s mission of raising awareness and challenging stigma, Payne says, “Storytelling, in any form, changes individual lives and transforms communities.”
Contact our office for more information: (828) 505-7353 or namiwnc@yahoo.com
Asheville-based Mother Bear CAN has partnered with PracticeRecovery.com and Family Outreach and Response to form an online mental health education program called Families Healing Together. NAMI Western Carolina is not part of this endeavor but we wanted to help spread word that the first class from this collaborative begins tomorrow.
From Emily DeSerio, Family Education Specialist at Mother Bear:
“Recovering Our Families” is an interactive online course that uses a strengths-based recovery approach to help families move from distress and suffering toward hope and wellbeing. The course combines interactive support and affirmation with recovery-oriented content.
Tomorrow, May 8, is the last day to register. For more info or to sign up, visit their website.
