Turning Point Sends Powerful Message at Festival

"I stopped cutting [myself]. Yay."

"My Mom's remarriage."

"Surviving breast cancer!"

More than 300 postcards read like cathartic confessions, expressions of joy and empowerment. Each card was unique, some featuring words alone and others with collage, print and illustrations.

The "Tell Us Your Turning Point" art display was one of the main attractions from Turning Point, an organization that helps the mentally ill, at the North Shore Festival of Art Old Orchard at Westfield Old Orchard this week.

Turning Point assists people with mental disorders who don't have insurance or the resources to seek help. The group also helps teach social skills such as job hunting techniques and transportation use to the mentally ill. The postcard project is an artistic outlet for the agency's clients.

"It is anonymous and there is no artistic ability involved," said Heidi Newman, artist-in-residence at Turning Point. "It's a language that unites all of us. It's energy made visible and the anonymity connects us."

Ann Raney, the agency's chief executive officer, is especially proud of the wide range of people who have contributed to raising awareness for mental health initiatives in Skokie.

"This community is a remarkably supportive community," Raney said. "They are all real strong proponents of civic responsibility."

It was the first time in almost 20 years that the art festival was held outside the shopping strips at Westfield Old Orchard. The event was held from July 24 to 25.

In the past, the exhibition had been held under a giant tent in a parking lot next to the mall.

"We thought it would be better for everyone," said Amy Amdur, founder of Amdur Productions, which organized the festival. "It creates a synergy between people coming to the mall and the art festival, instead of splitting the crowd. Being in the mall makes it all new."

Also new this year was a creative art tent for children and a series of musical performances from artists including Grammy-nominated "New Age" flutist  David Young and guitarist Mark Adamczyk.

"The fact that people can come here for the day, you can pretty much spend the day here, that's pretty nice," Amdur said. "The fact the sun came out is really great."

The event featured close to 150 artists from across the country and even a few from as far away as Argentina.

Other artists included Nestor Yulfo, a mixed media artist from Chicago who was up since 5 a.m. to put his show together.

"It's nice to be inside the mall, you get the people coming to shop and they look at the work," Yulfo.

Sponsors of the event included Blick Art Materials, WBBM Radio, CertaPro Painters and the Chicago Tribune.