Mindful Metamorphosis

“Mindful Metamorphosis” is the May 2019 art exhibition in the Westheimer Gallery at the SCAC. Artist Juli Cady Ryan uses this title for two reasons:  Most of her paintings are inspired by her children and their struggle with mental illness, and as the children’s desire to grow evolved, so did Juli’s art.  The last few years have been a time of experimentation – a willful push to change, grow, and learn new artistic techniques.

Juli Cady Ryan was born and raised on LaPorte Farm in northwestern Indiana.  She first encountered mental illness growing up with her mother.  At age 37 when her children’s struggles began, she found she needed an outlet for her own feelings and started painting with acrylics.  Juli uses her and her family’s experiences to create whimsical pieces filled with color and hope.  She wants to be a voice for those suffering with mental illness, and those who care for and support them.

Juli’s major artistic influences are masters Gustav Klimt and Marc Chagall, drawing inspiration from their use of colorful shapes and whimsy.  Recently she has begun using materials in nontraditional, free-flowing ways, often mixing conventional and unconventional media to create backgrounds of shape and color.

Juli Cady Ryan’s art has been sold internationally and has been featured in several national publications. It is fitting that this exhibit will be held in May, during National Mental Health Awareness Month.  In addition, Juli is partnering with NAMI (the National Association for Mental Illness) and will be donating partial proceeds of her sales from the show to this very important organization.