Survivors Stories Closing Party tomorrow 19th Sept

Dear Friends,

The Loonies Fest wave is ending tomorrow evening with the closing party for the Survivors Stories art exhibition.

The show will be accessible between 4-8pm (with the Three Bees Cafe open 4-7pm) and will be accompanied by more activities and entertainment. Please note that there is no alcohol involved; feel free to BYO if you like, although we wish to remind to drink sensibly and support an alcohol/drugs free environment.

Join the complimentary Qi Gong session by Jade Lotus starting at 4:30pm www.jadelotus.co.uk

Relaxed poetry reading, music and performances will start at 6pm until 9pm. Closing with LOVE AID Kirtan & Celestial Sound Healing.

The symbolism of the closing party is aimed to bring to a close these celebrations, the end of the Summer and for any difficult phase people wishes to move forwards from.

Life does not spare anyone from traumas and suffering, it's just one side of the same coin of the existence we are called in to live. New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings. Lao Tzu

See you at FEEL meeting later today or at one of the events below.

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SOLO SHOW by Michelle Baharier: Living with Trauma
29 August to 6 October 2017 Open Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm (by appointment only) at the SHARP Gallery 308-312 Brixton Rd, London SW9 6AA Private view Monday 18th September 5-8Pm

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KNOW MY MIND PRESENTS So U Think I’m CraZy?
“Who would have thought I would end up like this?”

Mon 18 Sep – Thu 21 Sep, 7:30pm Tickets FULL: £12.50 CONCESSION: £10Ovalhouse 52-54 KENNINGTON OVAL LONDON SE11 5SW.

So U Think I'm CraZy? is a hard-hitting, emotive play exploring the issues surrounding mental health in Britain today told through the eyes of a young black man.Using dance, poetry and music this multi-sensory experience will take you from the streets of London to the secure wing of a psychiatric hospital.Know My Mind is a theatre company in Croydon, London, shining a spotlight on mental health issues from the perspective of service users and carers. So U Think I’m CraZy? is written and directed by KMM co-founder Ekanem Hines​ www.ovalhouse.com/whatson/detail/so-u-think-im-crazy​​

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Mirkwood - Book Launch and Exhibition
opening​18 September at 18:30–21:30

St Leonard’s Church (patron saint of the mental), 119 Shoreditch High St, E1 6JN London

Bethlem Mental Hospital, or 'Bedlam', throughout its history and four sites has occupied a liminal place. Situated always on the edge of society and on the border of the City. Today's Bethlem is comprised of numerous smaller blocks situated in and around the Forest.​ This book is a study from the Forest ​. “These photographs invoke the dark forests of Norse mythology: Myrkviðr (Mirkwood, literally ‘dark’ or ‘murky wood’), the great primeval forest that was once the border of the known world, a place of transition from one world to another, from one narrative to the next. A zone of transformation, of metamorphosis between different states of mind and being. “ Willard Kane 2015​

September Newsletter + healing live gig in support of Survivors Stories exhibition today

Dear Friends,

It was an awesome experience to co-create and be part of the Loonies Fest. As by a magic spell the day unfolded beautifully on a mostly sunny day, among pre-Autumnal weather. A truly special and extraordinary day filled by likewise extraordinary, delicious and authentic souls that engaged in activities, performances or simply by being there.

THANKS go to all Artists performing and contributing with their time and wit, workshop leaders and audience that created the awesome vibrant flow throughout the day. A photo album and thank you to all the (lunatic & non) co-creators of the day can be viewed here http://bit.ly/ and more photos are flowing in from others.



The Survivors Stories art exhibition will be accessible again this afternoon 4-8pm. The Three Bees Cafe will be open 4-7pm for delicious home made cakes and dish of the day.


If visiting the exhibition today join us also for a impromptu LOVE AID Kirtan & Celestial Sound Healing session, feat. Ion The Lion & Friends, live on stage from 5pm
http://bit.ly/2xEYoBI


This weekend in occasion of London Open House Kingsley Hall and the show can be accessed from 11am to 6pm (Sat 16 ONLY). Hourly tours of the building start at noon http://bit.ly/2xhZXI1


Next Monday the 18th we'll also be back to LARC for our monthly FEEL meeting. Join us to carry on the 10th years celebration of FEEL and variety through lunacy, of life.

Please find more events and dates for the diary below.

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Shy Radicals & Dolly Sen discuss Anti-psychiatry DSM 69
Wed 13 Sept 2017 7-8:30pm Housmans Radical Booksellers, 5 Caledonian Road, N1 9DX London

Discussion on influence of Antipsychiatry on ‘Shy Radicals: The Antisystemic Politics Of The Militant Introvert’ with Hamja Ahsan and Dolly Sen Wednesday 13th September,7pm Entry £3, redeemable against any purchase Hamja will be joined by Dolly Sen who will be exploring anti-psychiatry aspects of Shy Radicalism as well as talking about DSM 69, her parody of the Diagnostic Manual

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Robertfest 2017 by Mental Health Resistance Network MHRN

Sun 24 September 2017 noon to midnight Amersham Arms 388 New Cross Road London SE14 6TY

The event will include some of Robert’s favourite bands, including ATV, Vic Goddard, The Long Decline, The Astronauts, The Ceramic Hobbs, Dave Kusworth, Jowe Head and the Infernal Contraption, Alan Tyler, Frank Bangay, Melanie Clifford, Salad from Atlantis, Dave Russell, Paul Caton, MC Razz and special guests.

RobertFest 2017 will also host the inaugural Robert Dellar Lecture, an annual lecture building on the life, times and activism of Robert Dellar. The first Robert Dellar Lecture will be given by Prof Esther Leslie at 4.30 pm at the Amersham Arms. Booking details here www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/robertfest-2017-tickets-37107687091

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nudging meteors - gobscure. 27.09.2017 to 10.11.2017.
Art house, Drury Ln, Wakefield WF1 2TE bit.ly/2wU8wcl

House presents new work by artist, writer and performer gobscure. With an international reputation and active involvement in disability arts,gobscure’s work challenges institutional narratives of psychiatry, encouraging debate about how we talk with each other about mental health and mental distress. gobscure.wixsite.com/info

Joey s/he - gobscure. 30th november / 1st december - 7:15pm. Camden People’s Theatre 58-60 Hampstead Road London NW1 2PY

work-in-progress - spiralling out of 1981 - hard-right government savagely cutting, race hate & riots, insanities over in the states but punk not pop punk ... www.cptheatre.co.uk/production/joey-she/

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SCN (Spiritual Crisis Network) talk – Managing the Threshold 7 October @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Kingsley Hall, Powis Rd, E3 3HJ

From his own intense and chaotic personal experience, Daniel Hadjiandreou shares what may occur when rapid opening to other dimensions happens without the skills and support of a loving, understanding community. He offers
some suggestions on how this journey can be smoother and less traumatic.

Isabel Clarke will put such journeys into another realm of experience into a context that places them at the heart of being human - and invites a radical new look at what it is to be human. Free for SCN members and friends.

£5 for others spiritualcrisisnetwork.uk/event/volunteer-social-day/

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SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL

10th-29th Oct 17. Challenging perceptions, supporting art and promoting change.The festival takes place across Scotland throughout October each year, aiming to support the arts and challenge preconceived ideas about mental health. The 11th festival will take place from the 10th of October 2017, follow on Facebook and Twitter for regular updates bit.ly/2gWkSH1

PRESS RELEASE: LOONIES FEST & ‘SURVIVORS STORIES’

LOONIES FEST
CREATING HEALING LUNACY
10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Saturday 9 September 2017


All events are taking place at Kingsley Hall
Powis Rd, Bromley-by-Bow E3 3HJ
Tube: Bromley-by-Bow; DLR: Bow Church
Buses: 8, 25, D8, 205, 108

ART - PERFORMANCES - MUSIC - ENTERTAINMENT - HEALING - RESPITE

Yes! A Loonies Fest. A Loonies Day.
A event to celebrate and honour people's lunacy, creativity and individuality. An all-day free festival where visual & performing arts, documented mad history and mad culture, will come together under one roof, giving people the opportunity to celebrate & network.
NOT insulting, NOT excluding anyone either (do you exclude mothers from the party, when celebrating father's day?)

The word Loonies needs clarification, as some people still find it to be offensive. We have embraced it and for the past 10 years it has empowered, accepting the fact of being vulnerable, mercurial beings, part of a complex Universe. Read on pls... 

 

The City of London Union Workhouse opened in 1849, housing the poor and the infirm and the staff that cared for them. The institution turned into a psychiatric facility in 1936 and was renamed St Clement's Hospital. 

Since the mid 1950s hospital patients received some support from the official League of Friends. This was a group of individuals that offered a trolley service with library books, newspapers, basic commodities such as sweets and toothpaste. Most importantly inpatients received a bit of sympathy from the Friends, which vastly lacked from the general public in their life outside the asylum.

Inactive for some time, the volunteers rejoined and registered the Friends of St Clement's (FoSC) as a charity in 1987, following the concerns of a carer about the treatment of her husband within the hospital. Patients, friends, family members and staff started meeting to discuss what was beneficial and what was harmful in the hospital methods. Chaired by the awesome Myra Garrett, in 1992 Friends of St Clement's established the social club; inpatients run this in the Wandsworth Stanley Hall, coordinated by Hycinth Taylor; the creative writing group started publishing its journal in 1995. 

When in 2007 St Clements Hospital was moved to a new wing in the Mile End Hospital, FoSC temporarily had nowhere where to meet. David Kessel, that started the Mental Patients Association and published the patients' magazine called The Phoenix in the 1980', suggested that the group should reform as a new independent anarchist group, naming it Friends of East End Loonies. FoSC eventually found a new space to carry on their meetings in Mile End Hospital until 2014 when, due to lack of interest or cooperation from staff, caused the group to end. 

Friends of East End Loonies met for the first time in November 2007, at the cafe of the Whitechapel Idea Store. 

One month later FEEL found a permanent meeting space at LARC (London Action Resource Centre). Here regular meetings still take place on the 3rd Monday of each month, to discuss mental health news and plan special events, which are usually held at Kingsley Hall, involving critical and progressive figures that work in the psychiatric field.

Now, ten years on, we are taking the chance to celebrate our past decade spent together producing a special day of activities, entertainment and amusement to counterbalance the misery of life. It's not all about us! It's about everyone surviving a life often troubled by obstacles and difficulties, deserving respite and a safe space where to feel accepted. The untroubled ones are welcome too. 

The LOONIES FEST is a FREE and OPEN day for anyone that, like ourselves, believe in the human and existential rights of diversity in any colours, shapes and shades. Drop the labels and join us in creating the rose garden that we need. There might not be many roses in this garden, but being called The Peace Garden sounds reassuring right.

So, enough with the past. Time to live the present and live for the future!

LOONIES FEST
PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY
Sat 9th September 10am to 10 pm

(subject to changes on the day)

10:00am OPENING 

-Yoga/Qi Gong fusion followed by drumming circle

11:00am Drumming workshop

12noon-3:00pm:

-MARKET SPACE with stalls by mental health groups and organisations (Main Hall)

WORKSHOPS:
-Thai Boxing Fighters Academy (taster class);
-Singing session (all abilities) with Rona Topaz;
-Poetry drop-in with poet Stephen Watts;
-Wellbeing Workshop with the RECOVERY Assistance Dogs

-HEALING SPACE with a number of masseuse/healers offering taster sessions (by donation) Youth Hall, 1st floor;

3:00-4:00pm: Respite - Tea Break

4:00-6:00pm:  Survivors Voices: Performances by mental health activists: with Dave Skull, Frank Bangay, Dolly Sen, David Kessel, Molly Carroll, Laura Cristin, MC Nick Waller

6:00-6:30pm: Panel Discussion "Healing & Arts & Lunacy" with Dolly Sen, Colin Hambrook, Laura Cristin, Michelle Baharier, Nat Fonnesu.

6:30-7:00pm: Respite - Tea Break

7:00-10:00pm: Second Part Performances & OPEN MIC: Su Patterson, Jazzman John Clarke, Raga Wood, Colin Hambrook, Stephen MICalef, Kym Kovary plus more. MC Razz Poet.

How to get to Kingsley Hall 
(links lead to individual maps):

-Bow Church (DLR) to Kingsley Hall 10 min walking

-Bromley-by-Bow (District Line) to Kingsley Hall 13 min -walking

-Stratford Station (Bus D8 Stop W) to Kingsley Hall 15-20 min journey

Massive thanks go to all people that have participated, contributed and helped at F.E.E.L. meetings and events over these past TEN years, particularly to Myra Garrett and David Kessel for founding the group in the first place and for being the great support and inspiring figures they still are today.

HUGE thanks to all exhibiting & contributing artists and helpers that, nevertheless the event is not funded, they are still supporting this project and celebrating with us, covering for their costs and transport. 
We invite the Dear audience to be generous in donating during the day, please. 
Collection boxes will be visibly located :)

Visual Art Exhibition
‘SURVIVORS STORIES’
5th to 19th September 2017

‘SURVIVORS STORIES' is a group exhibition of Artists with lived psychosis/psychiatric hospital experiences.

The show aims to celebrate past and present mental health Survivors, patients, ex-patients, service users (whatever people prefer to be called like).  Among the works on show there will be some pieces from Mary Barnes, which artistic talents flourished while residing at Kingsley Hall as patient in care, during the radical experiment run by the Philadelphia Association community, led by RD Laing between 1965-70 www.theguardian.com/books/2012/sep/02/rd-laing-mental-health-sanity

Works on Show by: 
Mary Barnes, Patrick Macdonald, TEM POK, Carrie Foulkes, Fatma Durmush, Sophie Marguerite Adams, Rachel Rowan Olive, Sara T'Rula, Michelle Baharier, Pawla, Peter Payne, John Zammit, Sam Shakes, Shelana Hodge, C.F., Kerum Wallwork, Melissa Gunasena, Max Reeves, Klaus Pinter, Colin Hambrook, Mark Allan, Laura Cristin, Gobscure. Co-curated by Christina Mitrentse & Nathalie Fonnesu

Please note that the show opens on Tuesday the 5th September, 5-7pm.  
The exhibition will be accessible for viewing on the following specific times ONLY: 

-Saturday 9th September, 10am-10pm (Loonies Fest)

-Tuesday 12th + 19th September 4-7pm

-Saturday 16th September 11am-6pm for London Open House event openhouselondon.open-city.org.uk/listings/3515

The Three Bees Cafe will be open most of the above times for delicious homemade cakes and hot drinks (regularly opens only on Tuesdays 4-7pm). Please note that alcohol is not served at the cafe. You are welcome to BYO. Drink sensibly, please.

For queries about the exhibition(only), please contact nat.kingsleyhall@gmail.com

Special thanks for the kind support from Kingsley Hall Community Centre Board and the Three Bees Cafe for allowing the exhibition and the Fest to take place in this exceptional place with their priceless suppor kingsley-hall.co.uk/index.htm


Loonies Fest details: bit.ly/2sh1Bbk
Fest FB event page: bit.ly/2vgCeEC
Art Show FB event page: bit.ly/2xEYoBI
PRESS RELEASE: bit.ly/2eslF1j

Email: f.e.e.l.campaign@gmail.com for more info