OUTSIDER

OUTSIDER, a 40 minute award-winning documentary, addresses both the tragedy and redemption that can result from mental illness. This complex landscape becomes personal as we learn about Maury Ornest, whose life encompassed baseball, schizoaffective disorder, and art. 

After Maury Ornest’s death at age 58, his sister Laura discovered more than 1,400 paintings in every room of his home and secret storage units,  a discovery which set her on an unexpected journey. OUTSIDER presents a rarely seen, unvarnished view of a family’s journey with mental illness and captures the surprising ways they found connection.

Directed by Ted Haimes and produced by Ted Haimes and  Nicole Lucas Haimes, OUTSIDER won the Audience Award for best short at the Montclair Film Festival. Maury’s journals are narrated by Gary Gulman.

Followed by a panel discussion, and a reception where guests can see and purchase Maury’s art and visit with the panelists. All proceeds from the sale of the art will be split between the Strand Theatre and MAINE PUBLIC.

Panelists:

Cynthia Sortwell, MD (Portland, Maine) — Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Tufts University and Maine Medical Center

Laura Ornest — retired radio reporter, Advisory Board UCLA Friends of the Semel institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, mental health advocate and proud sister of Maury Ornest.

Mia Bogyo — Director of Education, Center for Maine Contemporary Art

Moderator:

Keith Shortall, Maine Public Senior Editor — Keith joined Maine Public in 1989, and is currently the primary editor of Maine news and feature stories aired on Maine Public Radio, and TV news specials including election debates and the annual live State of the State address. He oversees Maine Public’s daily call-in program Maine Calling, and sometimes takes the host chair.