The long-awaited exhibit on the history of Central State Hospital (CSH) opens at The Depot Saturday, May 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., thanks to the efforts of local photographer Jessica Whitehead.
In this new exhibit, entitled Fast Fading, a History of Central State Hospital, Whitehead demonstrates a unique ability to combine history with place in the collection of pictures, artifacts, equipment, personal items, client art, and a CSH Documentary.
The Depot is a place surrounded by mostly deserted buildings of the once-thriving center for the treatment of mental health issues and developmental disabilities. From start to finish, this exhibit is a walk through CSH history.
Whitehead has had a lifelong interest in studying mental illness and how it is treated. She was inspired by her mentor, Dr. Greg Jarvie, to pursue a psychology degree at GCSU, and went on to work with children and families for many years. While she no longer works in mental health, her passion for mental health advocacy has not diminished.
After the death of her mentor, she picked up a camera and began compiling the fast fading images of what was once the world's largest mental health facility. As she gathered those powerful images, she felt called to share her photography with the public exhibit entitled, Seeking Asylum. These images can now be found in the Fast Fading, a History of Central State Hospital exhibit.
The Fast Fading exhibit is part of the mission of Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at The Depot, Inc., to communicate the historical and cultural heritage of Milledgeville, Baldwin County, and the Oconee River basin through its museums and educational programs. Whitehead is the 2024 President of the GOCHC Board of Trustees.
For more information, contact the office of Georgia’s Old Capital Heritage Center at The Depot, Inc. at 478-4531803 or thedepotga@gmail.com.
- Contributed