Pump House art show combines music and visual art to examine mental health, dementia

Megan Becker, Chillicothe Gazette
·2 min read

CHILLICOTHE ― This month's show at the Pump House Center for the Arts features a unique art style that addresses mental health.

Craig Matis is an artist, musician and songwriter from Cleveland. He creates X-ray collages, 3-D box frameworks and multi-media songbooks ― a mixed-media art form that incorporates music and visual art. He combines his artistic and musical talents to make cohesive pieces featuring collage visual art and corresponding lyrics.

Rocking Horse, the songbook of Cleveland artist and musician Craig Matis, is inspired by his experience with his late mother who had dementia. The work will be displayed at the Pump House Center for the Arts from July 7 through the 29.
Rocking Horse, the songbook of Cleveland artist and musician Craig Matis, is inspired by his experience with his late mother who had dementia. The work will be displayed at the Pump House Center for the Arts from July 7 through the 29.

His show is titled, "Rocking Horse: A Journey through Mental Health" and will be displayed at the Pump House Center for the Arts from July 7 to 29. Visitors can scan a QR code with a smartphone to listen to Matis' music while they view the corresponding visual art. It is recommended that visitors bring earbuds.

"It's important that they experienced the whole thing rather than just walking by looking at the words because the words complement each other," Matis said. He said the songbook art style was inspired by working with slide visuals in theatre productions and creating art for his band to display during their shows.

The title piece of the Pump House show, "Rocking Horse," is inspired by "Measure of the Heart," by Mary Ellen Geist, a book about helping a parent with Alzheimer's, as well as Matis' personal experience with his late mother who had dementia.

Another piece addresses mental health for those with a disability, which he created with his son, John Day, and friend Alexis Scheff, both of who have special needs.

"I decided to have that theme of a journey through mental health because each book kind of talks about a different aspect of mental health," Matis said.

Kira Weber, an artist with autism, will also have several pieces at the show that will address mental health.

Megan Becker is a reporter for the Chillicothe Gazette. Call her at 740-349-1106, email her at mbecker@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @BeckerReporting

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Pump House art show examines mental health, dementia with music