Well-known folk artist Maria Kelly joins forces with Minding Creative Minds for Postcards In Between, a brilliant exhibition and panel talk focusing on mental health and creativity taking place at Universal Space on Capel Street, Dublin 1 this weekend.
The ‘Postcards In-between‘ project initially started with Maria Kelly asking her fellow Irish songwriters to pen a ‘note-to-self’ letter to a version of themselves that they thought might need a helping hand. The letters became 12 postcards – each one linking to a track on her 2021 debut album, The Sum of the In-between. The project features Abbacaxi, Ciaran Lavery, James Vincent McMorrow, Paul Noonan, Rosie Carney, Runah, Saint Sister, Sammy Copely, Shiv, Sive and Tim Chadwick.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Maria Kelly will present an evening of discussion, music and art centered around cultivating self-compassion, in association with Minding Creative Minds. Musicians Tim Chadwick and Sammy Copley and visual artist Cécilia Noiraud will join Maria Kelly in a panel discussion on Saturday 30th April, at 7pm, hosted by psychotherapist and author, Siobhan Murray.
The conversation is set to explore the idea of self-compassion, particularly in the lives of Irish creatives, the interplay between mental health and creative careers, and the avenues of support available as a creative community and from dedicated mental health services.
In outlining the background to the project, Maria Kelly tells us that ‘Postcards In-between’ aims to highlight how powerful it can be to practice self-compassion. “I’ve struggled with my mental health for years, but in 2019, I went through a crisis. There were many things that made that recovery an uphill battle, but I know something that kept me going was a quiet voice that knew I didn’t deserve what I was experiencing; the voice that knew there was a version of me somewhere that got through it.
“‘Postcards In-between’ aims to bring that voice to the forefront, and I’m very grateful that these eleven artists have been so vulnerable with their offerings. There is so much compassion, strength, and wisdom in their letters, and I think you’ll find something in them for yourselves.”
