Kathy Briant described her daughter Shannon Morgan as “social, warm and friendly.”
But mental illness took its toll on Morgan, leading her to take her own life last year at the age of 33.
Despite seeking help from therapists and counsellors and trying countless medications to calm her depression, agoraphobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Briant said her daughter, a visual artist, eventually gave up.
“I was never really unhappy that she took her life — I was never angry at her … but it’s the loss,” said Briant.
“She’s now free, and my second thought was, ‘So am I.’”
Briant has since found a way to deal with her grief. She discovered a hidden art collection while clearing out her daughter’s apartment a week after she had died.
Since then, Briant’s been hard at work gathering the collection for a showing at Venturion Art Gallery this weekend.
Briant believed her daughter had talent and didn’t want her daughter’s art to collect dust sitting in her closet.
“Not only is the suicide not right, that’s not right,” said Briant through tears. “If she’s not alive, at least her art can be.”
Briant hopes to “have some good come out of this” by donating proceeds from her daughter’s art to aid others suffering from agoraphobia.
Venturion Art Gallery has provided space for Morgan’s work to be displayed over this coming weekend, and local photographer Ian Staples, who was a friend of Morgan’s, helped frame all the pieces that will be shown at no charge.
Showings will be held Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Morgan’s work can be viewed and purchased at Venturion Art Gallery 104, 214 – 11 Ave. SE.
Proceeds will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
