Colleen G Kassner

The Woman behind the Paint Colleen G Kassner

Colleen Kassner's recovery from mental illness is illustrated through her artwork, essays and poetry. Her journey starts in 1994 and it is a powerful narrative relating her amazing transformation. From single mother and social work student doing her internship at Grand Avenue Club (GAC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to a woman in the throes of bi-polar disorder and alcohol abuse, she changes her life when she experiences an epiphany that starts her recovery. She becomes a person who, paints, runs a gallery, is happily married, and encourages others on their journey toward mental health and recovery. In 2001 she reconnected with her creativity by using art to aid in her recuperation from a traumatic psychiatric hospitalization. She hasn't stopped creating and growing as a human being since. Colleen combined her degree in social work with her love for art in 2006 when she re-established, her connection with Grand Avenue Club (GAC.) GAC uses a unique, non-clinical philosophy of psychiatric rehabilitation, which enables its members to return to full and productive lives. Colleen recently retired from her position as GAC's "Artist in Residence." She now paints full-time and advocates for mental health issues when the opportunity arises.