Museum of Science presents Many Faces of Our Mental Health

BOSTON – Many Faces of Our Mental Health, an exhibit that shines a light on common misconceptions about mental health, will open in the Art and Science Gallery at the Museum of Science, Boston on May 27^th. The exhibit fuses art and science by showcasing paintings, photographs, sculpture, and video inspired by current scientific knowledge to explore the important topic of mental health.

“Many Faces of Our Mental Health addresses one of the most critical social issues of our time. We hope this exhibition provides visitors with insights on what is meant by mental health and mental illness,” said Christine Reich, vice president of exhibit development and conservation. “Where we fall on the spectrum of mental health is based not just on an individual’s biology, but also his/her context. Mental illness is greatly affect by the treatment options that are available to individuals as well as how our society responds to individual variation. People living with mental illness can lead very productive lives and this exhibition highlights this important concept.”

The exhibit is a collaboration between the Museum of Science and Boston-based artist Lynda Michaud Cutrell -- who teamed up with Dr. Bruce Cohen, MD, PhD, neuroscientist and former president of McLean Hospital, and Rae Simpson, PhD, a science journalist.

Visitors of the Museum will be able to view artwork that reflects biology, data, and personal stories in the hope that they might gain new insights and better understand the complex nature of mental health. In the tranquil gallery, visitors are invited to reflect on how mental health affects their own lives or the lives of friends and family.

Artwork in the exhibit includes a sculpture representing the full human DNA sequence. The sculpture uses colored features to indicate specific genes associated with mental illness and was developed in actual width-to-length proportions of human chromosomes. Also on display in the exhibit is portraits of 99 individuals, including 33 people who have experienced symptoms of schizophrenia, 33 people who have experienced symptoms of bipolar disorder, and 33 people who love them.

These 99 Faces images are courtesy of Paul Foley, Louise Michaud, Frank Caliri, and Michael Ciesielski.

Funding for this project has been provided in part by the Sidney R. Baer, Jr. Foundation, Sidney A. Swensrud Foundation, Barbara Scolnick, and NAMI Cape Ann.

Many Faces of Our Mental Health will be presented at the Museum of Science from May 27th through September 2017. The exhibit is included with regular Exhibit Halls admission $25 for adults, $21 for seniors (60+), and $20 for children (3-11). For more information, call 617/723-2500 or visit www.mos.org.

About the Museum of Science

One of the world's largest science centers and New England's most attended cultural institution, the Museum introduces about 1.5 million visitors a year to STEM via programs and interactive exhibits. An extraordinary variety of learning experiences span the Yawkey Gallery on the Charles River, Hall of Human Life, Thomson Theater of Electricity, Charles Hayden Planetarium, Mugar Omni Theater, Gordon Current Science & Technology Center, 4-D Theater, and Butterfly Garden. The Museum's National Center for Technological Literacy® curricula, including the award-winning Engineering is Elementary, have reached an estimated 10.5 million students and 122,400 educators. The Museum sparks teens worldwide to use digital technology via The Clubhouse Network and has led a $41 million National Science Foundation-funded Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network of science museums. Visit: http://www.mos.org.