I was recently asked to document an exhibit located at the Odegaard Library of the University of Washington, here in Seattle. This UW (U-dub for anyone that doesn’t know) exhibit was put on by Live Inclusive , a group dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities lead the best lives possible within their communities while also bringing awareness to those communities. Make sure to visit their site: www.liveinclusive.org , because they are a terrific group of people doing wonderful things for others!
“The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic”, is a traveling exhibit that was brought to the UW. It shows a fascinating account of psychiatric patients, and the items they left behind in suitcases, which were found much later in an attic of the abandoned hospital. The exhibit also speaks of the long history of disability and psychiatry around the world. You can see some of my shots of the exhibit here.
pinimageBe sure to check out the exhibit while it’s in town, as my photos won’t totally do it justice. Plus, you can see the unavoidable icky library carpet for yourself!
The exhibit will be up until March 18th at the Odegaard Library on the UW campus.
There is plenty of information you can find about the exhibit online, including the exhibit for the website: www.suitcaseexhibit.org , www.liveinclusive.org , and Live Inclusive’s facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Live-Inclusive/113800772010098?sk=wall . Check them out!
Nancy Mueller - Beautiful photographs of a poignant exhibit, Tracie. I grew up in the Finger Lakes area and worked at Willard State Hospital from the time I was 17 years old until I graduated from college. Your photographs bring back many vivid memories of the time I spent there as a psychiatric ward attendant, a very long time ago . . .
traciehowe - Hi Nancy, thanks for your comments. I’m sure the photos don’t do the exhibit justice. Hopefully, you are able to make it to one of the places that the exhibit travels to.