Capitol Showcase Art Exhibition 2021 – Alabama Department of Mental Health

Since 2005, ADMH has hosted an art show at Alabama's state Capitol. Artists from around the state with mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders have their abilities showcased throughout the month of May, in observance of Mental Health Month.

However, due to the limitations caused by the virus COVID-19, this year the showcase will be online only. Unfortunately, the need for physical distancing to ensure we all stay healthy and safe has caused the department to cancel the in-person show. Our priority is the health of the artists and attendees of the exhibition.

Typically we photograph the artwork as it arrives for the show but this year we did not ask the artists to send in their artwork. Please bear with this year's show as it consists of the snapshots sent in with their entries and the quality varies. (The artists are welcome to send in higher quality photos of their artwork via email - we will update the photos whenever they come in.) Please enjoy the artwork and stories from our artists.

Alan Parsons Project

I had to move into a group home and couldn't live by myself anymore. I also used to drive my Read more

RTR

Missing Springer RTR $1 Read more

Pretty Colors

Missing Charlotta Pretty Colors $5 Is this one your favorite? Cast your vote for the Best in Show: https://forms.gle/qeWCWwYgrAo99wEi6 Read more

Spring at It's Best

I have schizophrenia. I had a hard time growing up and most of the time I felt like people didn't Read more

Red Flowers

I started doing art in the first and second grades. Colors inspired me to do art. I have paranoid schizophrenia. Read more

Swirls

Art helps me cope with my problems and when I feel I am being mistreated. It is a coping skill. Read more

Seagulls

I started doing art for fun. I have been doing art for some time. I have never had any formal Read more

Smiling

I have schizophrenia. I have got into a lot of trouble in my life but I am not like I Read more

Blue Bird

I have schizophrenia. I have been committed to Bryce Hospital six times. I relocated to Florence, Alabama in 1996 and Read more

Mental Illness 2

Growing up gay and with mental illness in Alabama in the 1980s was a major challenge. I denied my mental Read more

Chameleon Fish

I was born three months prematurely and raised in Mobile. I have always had to work much harder to overcome Read more

Love

I have struggled with anger and the symptoms of my illness. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I would get Read more

Fishing

I started when I was very young, a kid. Sometimes I get into a dark stage. Art, I guess made Read more

Coming into the Clouds

I have been in Bryce Hospital for a long time. I recently finally got out and I'm staying in a Read more

Good vs Bad

I have been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, anger outbursts, and bipolar disorder. I have faced many obstacles in my life Read more

Pink Sea

Missing Jackie Pink Sea $5 Is this one your favorite? Cast your vote for the Best in Show: https://forms.gle/qeWCWwYgrAo99wEi6 Read more

Eggs

When I was in prison I started doing art. It made me feel outstanding and showed my abilities. My art Read more

House

The art workshop was my first time doing art. It helped keep me calm. The painting today tells me to Read more

Life Gives Sight

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was about 15 years old. It took me a long time to accept Read more

God Bless Us All

I drew this picture of the cross with angel wings for everyone because it was for each and everyone that Read more

Breaking Out of Depression

Missing Marlon Breaking Out of Depression $5 Is this one your favorite? Cast your vote for the Best in Show: https://forms.gle/qeWCWwYgrAo99wEi6 Read more

It’s All About My Mother

Missing Mary It’s All About My Mother $5 Is this one your favorite? Cast your vote for the Best in Read more

Hidden Kitten

I attend the Montgomery ARC Burgess Center. I have a diagnosis of intellectual disability. I enjoy watching the TV channel Read more

Eye Am

A 28-year-old male who has been at Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility for 1 and a half years and is Read more

Big Reminder

I started getting interested in art in the third grade. Doing art helps me in my coping skills. It helps Read more

Chasing Rainbows

I started in this life as a child growing up in Maryland. I’m the middle of three boys. My parents Read more

Banana Man

I like to be called an Artist. I attend The Montgomery ARC Burgess Center. I have a diagnosis of intellectual Read more

Dreams of the Butterfly

Missing Shelia Dreams of the Butterfly NFS Is this one your favorite? Cast your vote for the Best in Show: https://forms.gle/qeWCWwYgrAo99wEi6 Read more

African Dude

I have struggled with the symptoms of my illness. I was diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Read more

Riverbank

I was the captain of my high school football team and was on track to play football in college. After Read more

Lines I Like

I have never done art, this is my first. I tried to give It a try to see if I Read more

Red Bird

Thank you for allowing me to present my artwork. I am a Peer Support Specialist at East Alabama Mental Health Read more

Black Butterfly

Missing Anthony Black Butterfly $5 Is this one your favorite? Cast your vote for the Best in Show: https://forms.gle/qeWCWwYgrAo99wEi6 Read more

Triangles of Color

I attend the Montgomery ARC Burgess Center. I have a diagnosis of intellectual disability and mood disorder. During my spare Read more

Black Knight Warrior

I was self-taught to do art. I used watercolors, pastels, and crayons in my art. I started as a young Read more

Beauty in Colors

I like to be called Flo. I live in a Montgomery ARC group home with my roommate. I have a Read more

Potted Flowers

I have never had any formal art training. I first started doing art In Miss Jane's class. Painting art helps Read more

Sailboat

My art began four years ago. It has helped me In my recovery. Art helps me focus. I relax, have Read more

Cupcake Delight

I have had a mental illness for as long as I can remember. I have had a hard time in Read more

Emotions

I have bipolar disorder and have been doing art for 15 years. It has helped me through a dark time Read more

By the Shore

I have been a member of the SOMI Club for eight years. I work hard at helping keep the SOMI Read more

Insects

Art Inspires me. It is beautiful and helps me see how I view the world outside and inside me. I Read more

Swan

I am inspired to do art. It calms my spirit and I feel relieved when involved in art activities. Junior Read more

Unexplainable Thoughts

Dealing with anxiety has always been hard. It does not help that we are in the middle of a worldwide Read more

Tree

Art is a good way to express myself. I took art for three years. My last class was AP Art. Read more

Clouds

Missing Brian Clouds $5 Is this one your favorite? Cast your vote for the Best in Show: https://forms.gle/qeWCWwYgrAo99wEi6 Read more

Saban

The thing that inspired me to draw is the need to have a positive mindset, which I found that by Read more

My Soul Dove

I have had obstacles my whole life. I was born with a speech impediment. I never got speech therapy, or Read more

Pretty

I have been coming to SOMI Club for a long time. I like wiping the tables and having fun with Read more

The Word of God

I have faced many obstacles in my life. I have struggled with depression, anxiety, and stressors. I have faced physical Read more

Imaginary City

I have been touched by the resilient, inspiring community of the members and others involved with the SOMI Club. I Read more

For Love of Little Webfeet & Hands

I've lived a life with intense emotionality and disordered thought content since my earliest memory. My skill at devising a Read more

A Dream

I see things come to me. I'm proud of anything I get. Trust God to do what you need Him Read more

In Flight

My name is Randy and I have faced many obstacles in life including my mental illness diagnosis. It has been Read more

Seagull Over Mobile Bay

I have been coming to SOMI Club for many years. I am committed to helping share the daily tasks at Read more

Tennessee River Bluff

I have had a mental illness for several years. I was homeless, in the hospital many times, and all alone. Read more

Android Jellybeans

One of the biggest obstacles I had to overcome was not being good enough to make the track team in Read more

The Simple Life

I have obsessive-compulsive disorder. It disrupts my life in many ways. Since starting my medication things have improved greatly. I Read more

Alien Launch Pad???

I have had many problems in my life since my LSD overdose. I have had many social problems and trouble Read more

Monarch Memory

Over the years, just the thought of my father's choices made me feel as if I couldn't breathe, leaving me Read more

Biden and Harris

I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type about 24 years ago. I lost my wife to bipolar disorder several Read more

Puzzle Pieces

I have had many hardships since being diagnosed with a mental illness. I am now living in an independent apartment, Read more

What I See

My name is J.B. I have been diagnosed with manic depression. Although I believe I am perfectly normal, I have Read more

Beach House

My diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder. I have been in and out of hospitals for about 15 years and was in Read more

Hacky Sack

I was very good at basketball in high school. I did not get to play in college because I started Read more

Art Show Details