Installation and projection from Preparing the Flute, by William Kentridge (2005).
Received an email from a school in California where the 10th grade students were learning about suicide prevention - saying they “loved the Black Dog website” and were using it for researching their project topic. One of the students suggested adding a useful link on our website that she’d found - so I’ve added it to the links page. Thank you for sending this through - I’m sure it will be very useful to people visiting Black Dog and congrats on being awarded extra credits I hear, for your find!
Words on the card ….. To overcome adversity, is sometimes the only way to survive. To fight against the odds and to win is sometimes the only way to get to tomorrow. So when each new day dawns and you awake to see it, always believe in tomorrow. That dawn will come. When the battle is won – when the fight is over. When the triumph is truly yours…..then each new day can be filled with life. And remember….where there is life there is always, always Hope. (Art by Anna Nielsen/card from Mags as we miss our four legged friend, Chelsea).
And postcards from friends with stories of travels – and art (‘Echo of a Scream”, by David Alfaro Siqueiros, 1937 from Museum of Modern Art, New York) …
This ink arrived around the time of making bags to fill with books to gift to young people. And I do have a thing for the Mary Poppin’s movie/story too. But I also think, to survive, you have to have a bag of sorts (imaginary or real) to carry with you. Something to keep filling with things collected along the way that help you get through the tough times and tricky moments. Serve to map a path forward. Contain what we’ve achieved so far. Store things that support us to be strong, independently minded individuals – to survive and create positive changes in our lives. Clunk and Jam notes even? Or imagine it’s a bottomless bag (like Mary Poppin’s), forever sprouting new treats, treasures – ideas and directions. And the beauty of this drawing (of all art and drawing), is that it allows others to have their own perception of the image – invites their own story to the page. So please pass her on, no doubt there’s plenty of stories in that old carpet bag - awaiting an ink pen or an old typewriter to help them spill …. pop back soon for more art and stories…
“Never underestimate the ability of a small group of citizens to change the world – indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead. Add music and art here too – as reflected in this song. Check out this refreshing interview with the 15 year old Birdy. It’s available on iTunes and through Amazon.com but unfortunately the real thing is not out in Oz or US until next year (Marchish?). Pass this on …
“On average we lose 1 young Western Australian to suicide each week.” (WA State Coroner). ”More people die as a result of suicide each year in Australia than there are fatalities on our roads.” (Australian Bureau of Statistics). You can support The Black Dog Project and those who may be struggling by simply passing on this ‘Dear Me’ note, and the related articles that follow, through your email and Face Book contacts. If you need to talk, Lifeline offers a 24/7 phone service 13 11 14. Or see Black Dog’s links webpage.
‘Dear Me’ …..
There is a book out that poses the question…if you could write a letter to your 16 year old self, what would you say? Considering, at 15, I tried to take my own life, this is what I’d say….
….. You’ll still be here. You’ll survive way beyond things you believed you couldn’t. And there will be many more times when you can’t bear the thought of living another day. Another moment. But know that it is but a moment. A moment in which you have only this desperate thought. But moments come – and they go. Tomorrow may not feel a whole lot better but it can be a starting point – not the end. You’ll need to take some seemingly impossible steps. Every day. Day in and day out to get to wherever it is you’ll eventually find a sense of place. A sense of purpose and meaning. And you don’t necessarily have to know exactly where or when that will be. You just need to maintain the drive and determination to find it. Keep putting one foot in front of the other ……and thoughts of not making it behind.
And you’ll have some massive spills along the way that will lay you flat for varying lengths of time – but you’ll get up. Eventually. Every time. You’ll get up. You must. And you’ll go another round so you can at the very least, prove to yourself you can. Your weakest point will be to rely on someone else to do this work for you…
