About the artist
About the “Stations” artist
Mary Button is a liturgical artist and educator
who has created a series of Stations of the
Cross that challenge viewers to a greater
understanding of those on the fringes
of contemporary society through the
narrative of Christ’s execution. Stations
of the Cross: Mental Illness, using
collaged papers and ink, is the
fifth series she has created.
With training in both art and
theology, she hopes each
year’s new series sustains
meaningful, theological dialogue
on human rights. Her work has been exhibited in the U.S. and the
United Kingdom.
In her artist statement, Mary writes:
The 2015 Stations are deeply personal. After years of
misdiagnosis, medication side effects worse than the symptoms
they were meant to treat, and the patronizing disdain of health
care providers, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It has been
five years since my diagnosis, and most days I’m overwhelmed by
the sheer force of color in my life. Friends often comment on the
bold colors present in my work, even in seemingly gloomy subject
material. Because at the age of 25, with the help of talk therapy
and mood stabilizers, it was like the color was switched back on. I
began to experience the world in a profoundly new way.
Stations of the Cross: Mental Illness can be seen at stations2015.com.
Prints and a devotional featuring the Stations are available for purchase.
8
FALL 2015 · Just Women