May 2024 - First Friday - Give What You Can Project: An Art Show in Memory of Patrick

Name: May 2024 - First Friday - Give What You Can Project: An Art Show in Memory of Patrick
Start: 2024-05-03T17:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-05-03T20:00:00-04:00
Location: Reliance Health, Inc.

Schedule

Fri May 03 2024 at 05:00 pm to 08:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Reliance Health, Inc. | Norwich, CT

Give What You Can Project
A show in memory of Patrick McGowan, 1959 – 2020 – Today.
Patrick’s story is dynamic - full of beauty, determination, struggles, art, color, and glitter. Patrick was a longtime, well-known neighbor within the Norwich community, living here for several decades. He was an advocate for mental health services, the LGBTQA+ community, and local resources such as St. Vincent de Paul Place and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Often, he would be seen in a dapper colorful outfit, a cup of coffee in one hand, a cigarette in the other, and with a pallet of colors smudged intriguingly on his fingertips and clothing.
To say Patrick was a good person would be an understatement. He always put others before himself and was willing to give whatever he had to anyone who was in need. However, as is often the case, good people have a layer of themselves that light isn’t shed upon. He lived through some difficult times. It was a culmination of his mental health, gay living in the 1970s and 80s, a widower, living with schizophrenia, and agoraphobia. Patrick attributed his strong belief of spirituality as his saving grace.
Patrick would often become so consumed with his art he would shut out the world not speak to anyone for days. The time was spent writing, drawing, and painting with his beloved cat. Patrick would often describe this as a darker time for him where he felt stagnant, stuck, and lost, as many can surely relate.
Fast forward some years and Patrick changed. With effort and encouragement, he connected with people, programs, friends, and events. He had supporters, encouragers, cheerleaders, and listeners. He grew to become someone who shed light on the ‘other stuff’, the uncomfortable stuff, the stuff many people don’t often talk about. He expressed how much he cared for people, how important they were, how mental health can be debilitating and motivating at the same time, how spiritually is what it is to the person, and so on. With this altered mindset he started creating more and more art pieces. His couch quickly became his paint palette. His house was his art gallery, and his surroundings became his inspiration. He started to see beauty in the world. He was a believer that healing was not linear but that you had to make the best out of every situation.
Patrick soon started going out into the community, to groups, to the soup kitchen, to church, and sold his art at numerous First Friday events in Downtown Norwich. Patrick never put a price tag on his pieces but when asked how much for a piece, he responded with: “Give what you can.” He didn’t expect anything major but when he received something he was beyond thankful. Most times he would sell his art just to get out of the house and be around people.
Little by little, Patrick was selling his art to the extent where he was able to pay off all his debt. After, he started to give 50% of his proceeds to local community organizations. Giving was receiving for Patrick. First Fridays quickly became a catalyst to Patrick’s happiness and to the happiness of anyone around him. Anytime you saw Patrick you would receive multiple golden compliments and praise. His art blended beautifully into his story where it defined who he was and how he was able to express himself to the fullest.
Fast forward to now and the Give What You Can Project. Showcasing Patrick’s art is a way for our community to honor his life, see and understand mental health a little bit better, and appreciate power of art. By purchasing a piece of art, you are helping Patrick’s legacy lives on.