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Thursday, January 1, 2009SOLON SUN

Exhibit shows artists' PLANfor dealing with mental illness

Lisa Chuan-Lee Cheng's art has fairytale-Iike qualities.

By Marjorie PrestonCorrespondent

Lisa Chuan-Lee Cheng hasbeen studying art in Ohio andNew York City since the late'80s. Her brightly-colored,symbolic drawings have afluid, fairy-tale quality. Sheworks in a museum.She also has to manage

mental illness.Those paths will intersect in

a new exhibit.Planned Lifetime Assist-

ance Network of NortheastOhio, a Lyndhurst-based non-profit whose mission is to helpadults challenged by mentalillness, will open a travelingart exhibit Sunday at HeightsArts Studio in ClevelandHeights. It features the workof PLAN members created inart classes, open studios orspecial workshops."I felt it was important to

share my work in that context,to see if it could help otherpeople," Cheng of ClevelandHeights said. "I think it will behelpful in reducing stigma."Cheng does origami and has

taught it in classes at PLAN,but watercolors are her truelabor of love."I've been working with wa-

tercolor pencil drawings withsumi ink for the outlines, andthen I color in with watercolorpencils. Then I dampen thepencil with a damp brush toblend the colors, and then putin a watercolor paint back-ground so it's mostly water-color pencil."Art therapists are there if I

ever need help, like if I have atechnical question. Sometimesthey talk about the work, andit helps me have insight into

what it might mean," Chengsaid.The exhibit includes pastel

drawings, paintings, watercol-ors and sculptures. Some willbe for sale at planneohio.org.Most work will be priced from$25-$75.Art and Poetry Coordinator

Gretchen Miller works onPLAN's Art, Poetry and Men-tal Health Recovery Project."As an art therapist, I know

creative expression can bevery helpful in coping, relaxa-tion and being able to commu-nicate thoughts, words andfeelings that might be difficultto relate verbally," Millersaid."We have a holistic recov-

ery program and a lot of theart in the exhibit comes out ofthat programming," she said.PLAN helps patients and

their families with problemslike depression, bipolar mooddisorders or schizophrenia."We've got people who are

working in the community,volunteering, people who are

going to school or who have amaster's degree and are doingwell in recovery. Others maybe on disability or in a grouphome. Local art therapistshave been helping get peoplemotivated and creating, andthey're looking forward toshowing their art," Millersaid.

"We aim to show how crea-tive expression aids in a mem-ber's recovery and educate thepublic viewing the exhibitabout mental illness," shesaid.

The art will remain on displaythrough Jan. 31 at HeightsArts Studio in the ClevelandHeights-University HeightsMain Library, 2340 Lee Road,Cleveland Heights. Reception2-4 p.m. Sunday. (216)371-3344.The exhibit will travel inFebruary to the CuyahogaCounty Community MentalHealth Board, in March toCSU, in April to Bela Dubby,in May to Ursuline Collegeand in June to Tri-C Metro.