David suggested that creating art alone can be a lonely experience. “I was an artist before my mental health became an issue, so I don’t know if that helps.”
“Sometimes it can be frustrating. I think it’s a metaphor for life.”
He reassured people struggling with mental health that there was “no need to worry” about joining the “casual and very friendly” group.
Fellow artist and session leader Rich Redwin founded the group in September and secured two years of funding from the Baring Foundation, a foundation that protects human rights and promotes inclusivity.
She explained that while the center has been very successful with women, it hasn’t been able to reach as many men.
“There’s a men’s mental health crisis going on,” he says. “We’re not reaching out to men in the same way, and we’re not providing an environment for men to be creative and participate and have community.”
The group has created a 10-foot (3-meter) lantern of the Greek god Prometheus, which they hope to display at this Saturday’s Cheadle Lantern Parade.
For future projects, I plan to move into metal fabrication, woodwork, and set construction.
