The town of Klosterneuburg outside Vienna is the location of the famed Gugging Haus der Künstler (House of Artists), a live/work community of artists with mental illness. Filmed in 1995, viewers will get a sense of the early history and daily life at this innovative program that stands at the crossroads of progressive psychiatric care and “outsider” art. This is a beautiful film about the history and present situation of the artist’s house at Gugging Mental Hospital. 14 mentally ill patients live and create in a supportive studio environment on the hospital grounds. The film received many awards in art films festivals, including first prize at La biennale du film sur l’art of Modern Art Museum of Paris (Pompidou center of Beaubourg in Paris) and the golden number awards at the Documentary International Festival in Amsterdam. Commentary by Randy Vick, HLM, MA, ATR-BC provides perspective from an art therapist.
Total Running Time: 1 hour, 3 minutes