“Ivy and Moss” is part of a series of mixed media drawings that discusses the physicality of mental illness. By creating abstractions of brain scan imagery that documents chemical changes in the brain, I have combined the invasive colors of the lichens and mosses to overwhelm the delicate plants on the top layer. Despite these disruptions, there is new, resilient growth. The images are layered together on Yupo paper using water-soluble graphite and water-soluble crayon and are backlit to create depth, as well as the narrative of a physical medical issue. The aim is for this imagery to open communication and invite dialog that helps to break down the stigmas that otherwise surround mental illness. By thinking about it as an unstoppable, physical ailment we can potentially realize that management is possible with proper support.
This project was funded in part by a grant
awarded from the Washington Arts Commission
