Dust - A Sculptor’s Journey is the compelling story of one of Canada’s lost artists, Stanley Lewis, considered by many as a national treasure in the contemporary art world. Alyssa Savage , A member of the Reachout organisation, is the daughter of Stanley. The film incorporates his incredible art, and touches upon ongoing inner battle with bi-polar disorder. Part of the film was made with Stanley, before his death, the rest takes place as to what happened afterwards - which includes the shocking reality of the art that Stanley left behind going to an individual who had Stanley’s will changed on his death bed. It is a moving film, showcasing some of the artwork Stanley created during his lifetime. Visiting Stanley in his studio based above a tombstone engraving company, was in Stanley’s words, ‘A constant reminder that we are mortal souls, but our creations are timeless’. This film was featured at Hot Docs, the world’s most prestigious documentary film festivals.
Reachout With Arts In Mind is a member-led expressive arts self-help group delivering and exploring opportunities for individuals to develop creative skills and resilience, providing a bridge to connecting with opportunities within communities and a vehicle to tackle stigma, discrimination and inequalities encountered by people experiencing mental health problems. Reachout is self-managed by members giving them the sense of ownership and commitment which is a significant factor in Reachout’s success.