My Journey Through Darkness / Rotunda Gallery / November 1 – December 19, 2024
Artist Statement
My Journey Through Darkness is an intense series of photographs and poems showing the inner mind of a person suffering through clinical depression. This series uses composite photography and freeform poetry as tools to represent the artists personal journey with mental illness. Through these works the artist examines the feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and everyday challenges. My Journey through Darkness also explores resilience and strength, as it honours the ongoing fight and ability to thrive despite the artist’s diagnosis.
The purpose of this exhibit is to show those who suffer from mental illness and depression that they are not alone in this fight, and it is possible to survive the darkness. This exhibit also highlights to those on the outside, who have never experienced these feelings, what it looks like from the perspective of someone who has been there to help form a mutual understanding of the challenges that must be overcome.
Thank you to Saint John Arts Centre and Jared Betts for allowing us to shoot “Alone in a Crowd” in the City Gallery during Jared’s Pictus show.
Thank you to all my friends and family who stood by and helped me not only with this difficult project but also by being my lifeline and support crew in life. Special thanks to Ken & Odin for not letting me give up and always being my lights in the darkness.
If you recognize yourself in these images know that you are not alone, and the fight is worth it.
There is help out there. Here are a few resources you can call on:
Suicide Crisis Helpline:
Dial or text 988 anytime day or night
Kids Help Phone
Call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868
NB Mental Healthline
Call 1-866-355-5550
CHIMO NB
1-800-667-5005
Canadian Mental Health Association
www.CMHA.ca
or call 506-910-1804
Biography
Alicia Robichaud is a Multimedia artist whose artistic time is split between photography, acrylic & watercolour painting and more recently fibre arts. She has shown her work in various exhibitions across NB such as a group exhibit with her husband at the Saint John Arts Centre (2024), a solo exhibit at Uncorked Market Series in Saint John (2024), a group exhibit at Sunbury Shores St Andrews (2021), a group exhibit at the Fredericton Public Library (2019). She has also had the opportunity to have a few of her pieces shown in galleries outside of Canada. A group show, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow Scotland (2019) and a group show at Tangent Gallery, Detroit USA. (2019)
Many thanks to Kelly Galbraith for this wonderful interview with Alicia Robichaud: