Coming Soon! Lyme Disease: Portrait of an Epidemic
Exhibition
Nov. 5 to Dec. 10
Visual Arts Gallery at
SUNY Adirondack
Reception
November 5, 4-6 PM
Visual Arts Gallery at
SUNY Adirondack
After a year of prepping and painting, my exhibition about Lyme disease is finally drawing near. The entire project centered around in-depth conversations with nine Warren County residents who have suffered from Lyme disease, as well as my personal experience with the illness. Those poignant and inspiring discussions led to a body of work that I’m proud to show at SUNY Adirondack’s Visual Arts Gallery.
The exhibition stresses the seriousness of tick-borne illness…the extent to which it can impact one’s life. Understanding and education is key to prevention so, to that end, portions of the interview audio recordings will play in the gallery, and informational panels will accompany the artwork on the gallery walls.
One of the most powerful moments of each interview was when I asked, "What has Lyme taken from you?" Everyone was vulnerable and visibly emotional in their responses. Here's some of what was said:
Lyme has taken my: identity, childhood, joy, energy, trust in the medical system, confidence, athleticism, independence, relationships, words, money, plans for the future, health, social life, career, inclination to have children, sanity, time, memories.
The artwork is an expression of these feelings and the experience of Lyme disease. I hope you’ll visit the show and attend the opening and panel discussion, both of which are free to the public, no reservation required.
The opening reception will be held on Thursday, November 5 from 4 to 6 PM in SUNY Adirondack's Visual Arts Gallery.
To complement the exhibition, a panel discussion on Lyme disease and co-infections will take place on Thursday, November 12 at 5:30 PM in the Scoville Learning Center Auditorium. Several prominent Lyme experts will share their knowledge and answer questions.
Thank you
to the Lyme warriors who've shared their stories:
Bob ~ Deanna ~ Elizabeth ~ Jenny ~ Jill ~ Maggie ~ Masyn ~ Raelynn ~ Warren
And several partners whose support has made this project possible:
Holly Ahern
Warren County Public Health
SUNY Adirondack
Lyme Action Network
This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrant program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council.
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