Page 44 - ReAwaken Ebook 1st Ed

Projects at ReAwaken

The Meaning Manual:

Re-writing the DSM - an interactive art project

This Art project aims to transform an old DSM to capture the narratives
and meaning behind human distress. The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual for Mental Disorders or more commonly known as the DSM is
written by Psychiatrists and medical professionals to label and diagnose
people. The Meaning Manual will be created by the community for the
community to capture alternate explanations of distress including the
complexity, meaning and hope of the human experience. We invite all
community members to choose a page from the DSM to transform by
using altered art journaling techniques. Local artists will be available to
assist you to paint, draw, stick, write, stamp, collage and create your way
through this transformational process. All levels of creativity are
welcome. The Meaning Manual will be placed on display at the Reawaken
festival and at other events in the future to facilitate conversations
around this new narrative crafted by our community.

The Turning Point Project:

Documenting personal stories of change and transformation

The inspiration for the Turning Point Project, came to Ross from reading
other people’s stories and an acknowledgement of how powerful and
transformative that was for his own recovery. This project is an
opportunity for participants of Reawaken to come together and share
personal experiences in community. While it will acknowledge the
darkness in people lives and the world, ultimately, it will be a compilation
of gems, reflecting the many facets of recovery. This collaboratively
produced document seeks to connect us with ourselves and each other,
and in this process help create healing and positive change.

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