Brushes With Life Art Gallery
The hallways and waiting room of the third floor of UNC's Neurosciences Hospital are decorated with dozens of works of art in a variety of media. These works, collectively known as the Brushes With Life gallery, have all been created by patients of the Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program (STEP). In addition to encouraging patients to express themselves artistically and providing a space for their works to be exhibited, Brushes With Life seeks to diminish the stigma associated with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses by showing visitors that these conditions are not an impediment to creativity and productivity. The gallery mounted its debut exhibition in 2000; exhibitions change every six to nine months.