'Creative potential in all of us'

Jul 21 2004 By The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

"Most hospitals are so under pressure there is no space to do his work."

Within the establishment, Outsider Art has always found a place and influenced scores of world famous painters.

From 1918 to 1921, Hans Prinzhorn, who was versed in both art history and psychiatry, collected more than 5,000 pieces painted by patients of Europe's mental hospitals.

That collection alone has done much to continue the debate on links between creativity, rationality, and illness.

It also influenced many painters - most notably greats like Paul Klee.

Although there is a spiritual dimension to creativity, scientific studies also suggest art changes a person's physiology and attitude. The body state changes from one of stress to relaxation.

The discipline develops different brainwave patterns.

There is little interest in the arts in mental health, says John, but it is one of most effective ways of getting people centred and back in touch with the world.

He takes art sessions with the sole purpose of creating art with the patients.

Thanks to John and A.I.M., a group of people suffering from mental crises have been found studios from which to work.

Four of them are in the town's roomy mills.

"There's one guy who's so desperate to start painting. There are problems in his life and he wants to paint them out. He feels art is really going to help him."

Then, they will be able to tour, exhibit and even sell their work.

"We are all artists and we all have that creative potential, particularly when we are in crisis," says John.