Focus on Strengths

Luz Garcia Zielinski, who was the rehabilitation assistant for the Wellington Centre's Card Workshop from June 2007 to May 2008, spent an amazing year nurturing the talent that surrounded her. Her main goal was to raise awareness of art created by clients. Luz succeeded in a big way - teaming up with a group of Verdun artists called Empreints d'artistes, the Verdun Economic Forum, and various mental health groups to organize a series of art exhibits. She sees art as a medium for change, "Art touches everyone. It's a powerful way to showcase the talent and potential of everyone."

Last February, Luz helped to organize an exhibit in the halls of Montréal's Place des Arts. This initiative was led by the organization Les Impatients, in collaboration with representatives from the Douglas Institute Wellington Centre, Hôpital Louis-H Lafontaine, Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies, and Institut Philippe-Pinel de Montréal. Clients from these organizations combined their skills to create a collective sculpture that grabbed the eye and touched the heart. She recalls, "Many people saw this sculpture. It was a magnificent way to reduce stigma."

Luz was also instrumental in arranging an exhibit of 30 Wellington Centre artists at Verdun's Fréjus St Raphael Café, and Lachine's Saint-Pierre and Saul-Bellow Lachine libraries in Spring 2008.

Still at It

With pizzazz and unstoppable energy, Luz has helped organize exhibits that will run throughout July and August 2008 at Verdun's Église Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, in August and September 2008 at Verdun's Cultural Centre, and in February 2009 at Lachine's Cultural Centre. Information on these events will be available on the intranet's calendar of events.

Luz is calling upon the Douglas community to take part, "If you're looking for reasonably priced original works of art to decorate your home or office, drop by one of our exhibits this year. Why not search for the perfect piece and combat stigma at the same time?".

More about Luz

Born to an artistically gifted family in Mexico City, Luz has always felt the pull of art - first from the painting, dance and music of Mexico - then from the arts of other cultures. She has dedicated her life to art and to helping other artists develop their gifts.

After moving to Montréal, Luz owned and operated an art gallery and a vegetarian coffee shop for several years in Verdun. She quickly made it a popular venue for local art, dance, theatre, poetry and music. A group of Wellington Centre clients began to frequent
her coffee shop and show her samples of their art. Impressed, she invited them to exhibit in her shop.

Pushing for Progress

Inspired by the mandate of the Wellington Centre, Luz began to work there occasionally in 2002, and joined full time in 2007. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the Card Workshop artists were seen as artists first, "I want the public to focus on their strengths.
The more people view their art, the less they will cling to stigmas about mental illness."

In a Word or Two…

What word best describes mental illness?
Unfortunately... stigma.

How do you maintain a balanced lifestyle?
My passion for art and sports.

Who is doing outstanding work in destigmatizing mental illness?
Nicole Lahaie: former coordinator, Wellington Centre.

One word that describes the Douglas?
A mental health fighter against stigma!