Open•Up Magazine Offers Glimpse into the Hearts and Minds of Minnesota's Youth

See below for a sample page featuring the work of Laura Teich

The first issue of Open•Up Magazine is nearly printed—and what a magazine it will be!  Every submission that arrived reconfirmed the initial impulse that led us to embark on the task of creating a literary and visual arts magazine centered around the topic of children’s mental health. Take, for example, one of the early submissions, a watercolor titled “Dark Heart, Light Heart ” by an 8-year-old boy who had been hospitalized for mood stabilization.  His mother sent the painting in with a note that said she loved the heart “because it visually portrays my son’s moods.  Sometimes he is bright and sunny and sometimes he feels the darkness moving into his heart.” 

Since those first entries appeared, we have been treated nearly every day to envelopes full of heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking poems, inspiring and sometimes chilling paintings, and truly insightful yet sometimes cynical stories of what it means to live with a mental health disorder. As we began sorting through the more than 125 entries, we began to realize just how powerful art is in helping people access their thoughts and feelings.

We look forward to sharing the magazine with you at our upcoming conference in Duluth.  Be sure to stop by the Open•Up Exhibit Booth to receive your copy free.