A Lust for Life and Joe Caslin present: When Words Fail

A celebration of creativity and mental health

“Art is a wound turned into light.” – Georges Braque

“Sometimes words are not enough. There are some circumstances so utterly wretched that I cannot describe them in sentences or paragraphs or even a whole series of books.” – Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator

“Where words fail, music speaks” – Hans Christian Anderson

At A Lust for Life, we’re big believers in creativity – in making stuff.

We’re big believers in making art, making noise, making a ripple in the world.

(Although, making stuff sounds a little less scary than art, doesn’t it?)

In many ways, making stuff is the opposite of depression, of anxiety, of mental distress. Often, when we’re feeling bad, we turn away from our inner selves. We close up shop.

But making stuff – it’s about listening to yourself, hearing a part of yourself, and transforming it into something external. Something for others to enjoy. Something that now exists apart from yourself.

Something that proves: hey, I am here. I am alive. I matter. I made a thing.

So far, we have had huge success in creating a space for you to tell your stories in words. But too often, we might look at a blank page and think: there are no words. Words are not enough. Words have failed me. And maybe you need to communicate how you are feeling in a different way. Using a different kind of language. Actually, letting yourself make stuff is one of the soundest things you can do for yourself

So we want to create a space for you to share your stuff – stuff that isn’t words. Stuff you create when you simply have no words. Stuff that has come out of anger. Of sorrow. Of grief. Of depression. Stuff that has come after the darkness has passed. Stuff that has helped you.

We think this stuff is important. We know it will inspire people. We know it will help other people who might be at the very tentative stages of channelling their emotions into art or music, to create something of their own. And we want to show people what beauty and life can arise from the darkest of times. We’re starting a new section on the website called “When Words Fail” – and we want you to contribute your stuff to it.

We’ve collaborated with the incredible artist and mental health advocate Joe Caslin to create a new space for celebrating the creativity that so often arises from mental health issues. You might remember that Joe and A Lust for Life have collaborated before with this stunning mural in Waterford. Joe and the team at A Lust for Life are going to curate a wide range of work in this area – from painting, to street art, to animation, to hip hop; and share the best of it with you. A selection of this work will be exhibited next year.

So this is a call out to you, or anyone you know who has made stuff out of hard times. Make something. Record something. Draw, paint, sculpt, strum, riff, sing, act. There are no rules. Just send us what you made. And share it. Tag your friends. #WhenWordsFail

Make something and send it to us – let us share it with the rest of the world.

How?

Send us an email with the following information:

• Your name or the name of your collective (band, etc)
• Email address (in case we have questions)
• Location (city/county/country)
• Website or social handles (or both)
• Artist Statement – this is a piece of writing, anything from 10-500 words explaining your work and how it relates to your own mental health and wellbeing.
• Sample image, song or film clip – images can be attached to email (limit to 1-2 per submission). Audio and video will need to be hosted externally, ie Soundcloud, YouTube, vimeo)
• Note – images need to be of a high resolution and excellent quality. Poorly lit, low resolution or unrepresentative images will not be considered. Audio and video must also be of a high quality and submitted by link to an external host.

Send your stuff to whenwordsfail@alustforlife.com