JourneysToBethlem Part2Zine
JourneystoBethlem byDeeLister
Part2 ofthethree-partseriesaboutDeeLister’straumainformedcreativeresearch.Thiszinewasprofessionally printedbySelseyPress.
Copyright/permissions:
Thezineseriesandallimagesandwordsfeaturedare ownedDeeLister©
Allworkrelatingtothecreativeresearch,includingthezines, weremadewiththepermissionandsupportofOutsideIn andthe BritishArtNetwork.
TheMuseumoftheMindkindlyprovidedaccessand permissionstouseBethlemHospital’sarchivedmaterials.
Acknowledgements:
Thankyoutoeveryonewhosupportedme.Specialthanksto SarahKetalaars,DavidLuck,KirkSummerwill,Naomiand Emma,Morag,Dolly,Teddy,andNorri,andmyOutsideIn mentorsJoDollandCharlotteGraham-Spouge.Finally thankyoutoyoureaderforbeinganaudienceformywork. TriggerWarning:
IntroductiontoPart2
JourneysToBethlem ispart2ofthethree-partzineseries thatI’vesharedartworksandotherwaysinwhichI’ve creativleyrespondedtomentalhealthart.
Foranyonewho’snotseenpart1(StayingOpen,Staying Safe),Idefinementalhealthart*asanyart(anyformor media)thattapsintothethemeofmentalhealth,orthat wascreatedinamentalhealthcaresetting,orbysomeone whohasexperiences/experiencedmentalhealthissues.
Allexceptbeinghospitalised,theabovecategoriesinclude me.Ilivewithcomplextraumaanddisability.
So,inthiszineI’llbeimplicitlysharingfromprocess,ina primarilyvisualway.Ihopetoofferanartfulstoried versionofmyexperiencesvisitingtheMuseumofthe Mind.(Yesreadersofpart1,thiswasnottheinitialplan!)
Thenamesofallnumberedartworksandsourcesof inspirationscanbefoundonthebackpages.Iwasaiming foramoreenjoyableviewing,anddefinitelyalsoamusing myself,bycreatingthecollagesofartandphotography shared.Ihopeyouenjoy.
*Iusetheterm mentalhealthart forpragmaticreasons butamawareit’sproblematicinassumingthementaland physicalrealmsofexperienceareseparated.They’renot.
SnailTrailsandQuickExits
Ineedtooffersomecontexthere,sinceinzine1itwas mentionedhowIonlyintendedtocreativelyrespondto mentalhealthartthatwasavailableonline.Thismetmy accessneedsasIcanbestself-regulateathome.
Idecidedotherwiseasthethoughtofvisitingtheartworks Iwaslookingatandbeinginspiredbywassuchathrilling idea.Iknewthescreenimagesandmyfolderofartworks I’dprintedcouldn’tdojusticetothemulti-sensory experienceofseeingthemfirst-hand.
TheMuseumoftheMindweregenerousandsupportive infacilitatingmyvisittothearchives.Ifeelprivilegedto havebeenthereandcansayDavidLuck,TrustArchivist, waswelcomecompanyduringthisintenseandrewarding experience.
Thefollowingsectionshowsacollectionofartcreated duringthetriptothearchivesinMay2024,whichIplayed createthecollagesshared.
IlaterreturnedinJulytoseetheMuseumoftheMind’s permanentgalleryaswell,whichwasnecessaryas takingcareofmyselfinvolvedcuttingtheMaytripshort.I feltunwellanditwasjusttoomuchinonego.
I’mwarmedbymycourage,still.SogladIhadfaithinmy resilience.Despitemountingfearsbeforehand,Iused
SnailTrailsandQuickExits(continued)
everyresourceIhadtogoonthese‘adventures’.Ichose toseeitthatwaysincetheBethlem(‘Bedlam’)Royalsite wheretheMuseum’slocatedisveryfarfromwhereIlive inNWEngland.
Oh,itwasn’teasy.Therewasamélangeofoscillating emotionsandoftenunpleasantbodilysensationslike nausea,pain,andfatigue.Butthiswasallexpected-it’s myeverydaylife,albeitwithmoreintensediscomfort.
IfoundthosequickexitswhenIneededthem.Isought nature,nestledunderakindlytreetorestmywearybody andescapethenoiseandchaosasmuchasIcould.
Ifeltlikethesnailglidingacrossthewetpathascity people,notunkindly,steppedoverme.Thistoowas expectedsinceIgoslowlyandoftenneedtopauseand checkinwithmyself.(Iwroteaboutthisinzine1too).
IgotlostinBromleyandhadseeminglyendlessbus journeys,thoughIlivedinLondonduringaverydifferent phaseofmylife.
Ievenconfrontedyouthsbehavinginanintimidatingway duringonebusjourneytotheMuseum.Iwasdetermined togetthereevenifIwasfeltunsettled,sickandtriggered. Doodling,asever,offeredrespiteinaquietcorners.
(5-7,topleft,clockwise)
ArtworksandSourcesofInspiration
FrontCover‘BreakInGreenPark’
Backcover‘TunnelToAnotherBusStop’
1(p3)‘QuickExitsNecessary’
2(p4)‘AlwaysTimeForACupOfTeaAndADoodle’
3(p5)‘PhotographofMuseumoftheMindBuilding’
4(p6)‘SnailTrailsToandFromBethlem’
5(p7)InspiredbySueRMorgan
https://museumofthemind.org.uk/collections/gallery/artists/suer.-morgan
6(p7)InspiredbyMaureenScott
https://museumofthemind.org.uk/collections/gallery/artists/ maureen-scott
7(p8)InspiredbyMargaretO’Hole‘BotanicalAbstracts’ https://museumofthemind.org.uk/collections/gallery/artists/ margaret-o.-hole
8(p8)‘Caution,RestraintRoomAhead’
9(p8)‘BackToAnOldTunnel’
10(p8)‘FuzzyInElephant’
11(p8)‘RestingUnderATreeAtBethlem’
12(p9)‘Grounding=Nature’
ArtworksandSourcesofInspiration(continued)
13(p10)‘JulyVisitToBethlemSelf-Soothingp1’
14(p10)‘JulyVisitToBethlemDoodle’
15(p10)‘JulyVisitToBethlemSelf-Soothingp2’
16(p10)‘SickOfTravellingOrJustSickButGrateful’
17(p10)‘FindingMyRoots’
18(p10)‘It’sTakenALotToGetHere’.InspiredbyLynda Bamford’s‘PsychadelicWoman’.
https://museumofthemind.org.uk/collections/gallery/ artists/lynda-bamford
19(p10)‘MayVisitToBethlem,WordsDuringABreak’
Alllinkshttps://linktr.ee/deelisterphotos
