work in progress

Through my growing awareness of the lack of accessibility for disabled, neurodivergent, and chronically ill persons I find it necessary to make the invisible [illness] visible. In recent months I have developing a series of paintings, prints, sketches and collages highlighting the challenges I face living with chronic illness and neurodivergency. I believe there is an urgency in our country to shine a spotlight on the lack of accessibility and resources for the chronically ill, disabled and neurodivergent communities. And it is my hope that this work reaches the viewers that might be either knowingly or unknowingly furthering the oppression of this marginalized, but numerous, community. 

In this body of work I'm attempting to turn my body inside out. To find ways to express things like "when I walk it feels like my shoes are filled with broken glass". Or help me answer questions like "how will my disease change the way I make art?" This work relies on humor and color to express the complex thoughts and feelings we experience living with chronic illness.  It uses patterns to mark things like time spent stuck in the loop of phone calls to Doctors, Pharmacists, and insurance companies. The expansion of this work will include wearable art, auditory experiences and film performances to bring the viewer inside the experience of invisible illness.

My perspective in this work is influenced and inspired by the adversity I face and is swirled with identity shifts of marriage, motherhood and loss while swaying from well to unwell. My artwork is relatable at all levels and evokes emotions that the viewer connects to their own parallel experiences. They are invited to mourn and process with me, in community. I believe that exposure to and interaction with my art would be a great opportunity for the community of chronically ill, neurodivergent and handicapped persons to feel seen, to feel safe and to feel in good company.