Brianna Hernández

Anticipatory|Después: Consequence ; 4'11"

“Caring for my mother showed me in real time how caring for others is a full mind, body, and spiritual experience that cannot be taken lightly. Having to sit with the impact of that experience on my mental health has made me more mindful of the care I exchange in all of my relationships in order to better show up for others and myself in sustainable ways.”

Katherine Brown

'Holding it All Together' 28"x28" watercolor on paper.

“I am from a family of chronic worriers, and there have been times in my life where I knew that my worries were irrational and were taking over all of my thoughts. Once I had children, this became my way of life, and it took five years for me to realize that these constant thoughts of worry were not the way to live. Once the pandemic hit, all of my worries were magnified and I didn't have time to do the thing that always made me feel better- creating. I was caring for my two very young children, my students (who I worried constantly about), as well as my family and friends who I had little access to in-person. I felt like I was carrying all of this worry on my shoulders, and began taking it out on my family out of resentment for the fact that I didn't have time to do anything outside of my daily responsibilities. I do put a lot of pressure on myself to be a perfect parent, teacher, partner, artist and the pandemic burst that bubble into a thousand pieces. I think about what life was like in my early 20's and I think about how I was ted so much time in my life when I could have been creating work 24 hours a day without any other responsibilities, but then I think about the richness and complexity of life in my late 30's and how I have so much more to say than I ever did prior to my experience in motherhood. I know that my children are the most beautiful thing I've ever created and they inspire me daily, but finding that balance between care-giving, motherhood, sleep, and fueling my personal passions is difficult at times, and was completely amplified during the pandemic.”

Stefanie Zito

Pillow Portal 20" x 24" x 5"

“As a mother of two small children, I often feel drained. The pandemic has piled onto this feeling all the more. I am also a yoga instructor and an Airbnb host, so showing hospitality and being present for others is a professional practice for me in addition to my caregiving role in my family. While it can often be heavy and hard, there is something about showing up, preparing spaces, and inviting other people to breathe with me that I find grounding. While sometimes preparing spaces for others or holding space for others feels like an impossible task, and even in some ways makes me feel like an imposter as I'm often feeling anything but centered myself, the opportunity to be present and hold space collectively can curiously be just what I need as well.”

Taiessa Pagola

ghost of a package i sent to my brother Felt, thread, wheat paste From left to right (dimensions: l x w x h): afterschool snack 13.5 x 2 x 19 cm the only way you eat KD 12 x 10.5 x 7 cm twizzlers 24.5 x 3 x 10 cm pringles 7.5 x 7.5 x 22.5 cm your favourite chocolate (i think, if i remember) 19 x 2 x 8 cm coffee from home 10 x 8 x 23 cm

“I am someone who feels most myself when caring for others. In my life, this often looks like offering emotional support simply by listening, cooking a meal, sharing the harvest from my summer garden, offering house plant clippings to anyone growing their collection, creating art for or with others, lending books, or silently working in one another’s presence to name a few examples. These are gestures whose core actions bring me joy in the first place, which is only amplified by being able to share the experience with others. While some of the care I offer others may be more challenging than the various manners I’ve just listed, as someone who is highly empathetic, my mental health thrives in being able to offer others the care that meets the needs or desires that they have expressed to me. I have spent many years volunteering with supportive listening and crisis intervention services, and despite the difficulty of many situations that individuals disclose, I constantly find myself rejuvenated in those roles. Being able to share stories and connect with others, whether ripe with laughter or tears or both, is something that I value highly and that contributes largely to my mental wellbeing.”

Tamara Zibners

Creamsicle Gonna Get You, Inkjet Print Collage, 9’x9’, 2021

“Four years ago, when I was having difficulty conceiving a child, my ongoing anxiety I had experienced since my early twenties, became unbearable. My anxiety manifests as an inability to drive on the interstate, and at this time I was completely unable to drive on the freeway, or drive at all. After a plethora of different therapy treatments I decided to take anti-anxiety medication. And I still do. I manage my anxiety with medication and self-care, but it is always there. As a stay at home mom of a toddler and an artist, I first care for my family, and then I get in my studio. Although my current body of work speaks directly to human connection and touch, it is heavily entrenched in my relationship to my mind dealing with my relationship to my child.”

Amy Branch-Lambert

Comforting the Vulnerable 12" x 6" x 2"

“My mental health is challenged daily by the ways that I care for others. Being the emotional hub of the family is a role that can be very difficult. It carries an invisible toll that is not quantified monetarily or by society. One cannot fill another's bucket when the well is dry. My father's dementia is one of the most challenging ongoing situations that I have experienced. It is a continuous grieving process to lose a little more of him every day... even with a slow progressing dementia. He is my only family member from my family of origin, so I am alone in caring for him and that also triggers grief. The pressure of caring for both my teen son and my elderly father has been a tough journey of always feeling pulled in both directions at once. Depression and anxiety have certainly been part of this journey. Watching him regress and need more and more care is heart wrenching. Parenting a teen who has significant ADHD causes me to question my decisions and occasionally my own reality. Ironically, my dog, Harley, is quite elderly and mirrors many of the issues I have with my dad. Harley is mostly deaf, has some dementia and has a difficult time getting around. Of course, I care for him as well. Witnessing people turning to their pets to help with exercise/outdoor time during the pandemic also triggers grief as my sweet dog cannot walk the block anymore. I lost my walking buddy and, on many days, the motivation to exercise... perpetuating a vicious cycle because walking outside in nature is a way to recharge and lift my spirits. Truly it has been a struggle. I am feeling more hopeful as the pandemic seems to be going in the right direction and taking care of all of them is somewhat easier now that restrictions have eased.”

Michela Martello

The Stolen Metal Will Be Replenished 58'' x 44''

“In my personal experience, having led art therapy workshops for people with mental and physical disabilities has induced a particular attention and presence, increasing a deeper awareness in me, I had a feeling of mental expansion coming into contact with limitless possibilities. The more time passes the more I realize that in my practice it is important to be at service, the best way is through compassion, if I do not develop a sense of genuine generosity I run the risk of developing mental tensions and conflicts, therefore to care it becomes a mental exercise that can make us evolve a lot but if we are not always present we risk suffering an emotional burden that turns into mental stress. It is a seriously beautiful responsability towards ourself and the other.”

Cat Gunn

Crocodilian psychopomp. 13" x 11.5" x 12.5".

"Since I have struggled with loving myself for all my life (but especially the first 24 years), I have made it a point to check in on those I am close to and remind them that I love them, support them, care for them deeply, and believe in the path they have chosen. By allowing myself be more vulnerable and be outwardly more tender to others, I have been able to be more tender with myself as well. I am also a believer in the idea of "you can't take care of others unless you are taking care of yourself first," and so I have been more aware of my needs and have taken space and time for myself as needed, so that I can be grounded and ready to hold that space for others as needed.”

Alicia Sampson Ethridge

Tender Warrior, oil on 30" x 40" canvas

“As the mother of a child with complex medical needs I have developed an acute anxiety disorder. I rise daily to responsibilities while simultaneously renouncing control, coming to terms with constant vulnerabilities and change. I must find spontaneity in the midst of demands and immense circumstances. Caring for a child with a life threatening illness and significant learning differences keeps my nervous system on high alert. My flight/fight response has been kicked into overdrive in this pandemic. The elusive power of being a caregiver has also shaped a new world view where I can find profound joy, connection and magic in the most mundane acts. Once my son emerged from his heart transplantation surgery and recovery I was called to raise awareness of the experiences in the caregiving community and those they care for. Painting releases my anxiety and helps me heal my trauma. One of my hopes is that it brings transparency, and honesty to other families’ circumstances; gives space for empathy; reduces isolation, and most importantly inspires resiliency.”

McKenzie Drake

Hanging On, Emerging

“I could almost call myself a professional worrier at this point. I'm worried about what happens when nursing home costs engulf the Iowa land that raised my family, worried about my father biking to work, worried about my brother driving home from work every day on the busy Nashville interstates, worried about how my mom cooks and cleans every day without complaint. I now live a day's drive from my family, which I would consider comes with a worry tax. And when I think of "care," I think of being close, warm hugs, comforting food, family TV, but how do I care from afar? Well, I go for walks, call often, and worry.”

Alice Stone-Collins

Special Order 120, Diptych 30 x 48 inches

"My life changed in 2016. After finding out that my mother had breast cancer, my family and I decided to move back to Georgia to be closer to help out with her treatment and diagnosis. Unfortunately, the move triggered some significant past trauma from my husband’s life which left him a shadow of his normal self for much of the first year we were back. During this time, navigating the sea of parenting and family duties fell largely to me. Our children were ages four and one. My mother had just finished chemotherapy treatment. The year 2016 was twelve months long, but for me felt much longer. Four years later, this event still impacts me. I found that while trying to listen, support and be a constant pillar of strength for those in my life, it stunted my ability to access my own emotional needs. In ways, while I was “faking it to make it” for the sake of my kids and husband I feel like I can still get stuck in that mindset. Always looking/prepping for the next thing and not stopping to enjoy the moment that exists.”

Sara Hubbs

the holding of shoes/of things/of bodies, 2020-21, mold-blown glass, covered in bubble-wrap, 12 x 16 x 15

“As a parent, my mind is often occupied with with tasks on the level of the day to day where the repetition causes varying levels of exhaustion and compartmentalization. The fitting-in of my life and career around the matters of care are directly related to my sense of self apart from the family unit. Underlying it all, especially in these Pandemic times, there are periods of dread, of direct threat and a closeness to the possibility of loss. That worry wakes me up at night with a feeling like the bottom could fall out at any moment. In caring for my older family member who is ill, I feel a sense of overwhelm in the face of the medical realities, as well as a questioning if what I’m doing is enough, is it right? In both situations I am always wondering where balance can be found, which is its own anxiety, which I try to stay with and not let it overwhelm me.”

Casaundra Beard

Good Moms Need Help 24"x 48"x 12"

“Upon the start of covid 19 in March of 2020 I was completely lost and confused, overtime I leaned into my emotions and found strength in creating and allowed that to guide me down the path of resilience and optimism.”

Anna Armella

That Scared little boy (2020) 9 inches x12 inches

“My mental health is heavily influenced by the care I put into others, often I only have energy to maintain one relationship at a time in my life, but this makes that relationship the sole way I express care and get reciprocated feelings.”

Jess Levey

I Know You Have Felt What I’m Feeling Right Now Video 7min06Sec 2021

"My mental health is most influenced by the lack of time that I have to be alone and to care for my own mental health since I spend so much time caring for and listening to others. My mental health is also very much influenced by the physical and emotional struggles of those near and far. It is difficult for me to put up boundaries which is both a positive and negative character trait. On one side, I am extremely empathetic but on the other side I have a hard time separating other people's pain from my own pain, especially within my own family and with my students.”

Lauren Herzak-Bauman

7"x4"x7"

“I care for someone who is learning to care for himself. He is three years old and I am his mom, teaching and demonstrating how to move through life as an engaged compassionate loving human being as best I can. It is exciting and terrifying, happy and joyful, and sometimes irritating. My patience is tested and my capacity for love expands, every day. I was first alerted to the intrinsic connection between my mental health and my role as a mother when I developed post-partum anxiety six weeks after my son was born. In addition to the lost sleep of being a new mama, I was gripped with fear that something out of my control would happen to my son and it would be my fault. I was forced to contend with my mental health at a time when I wasn't sure I was able to take care of myself at all. I learned rather quickly (and sometimes need to be reminded) that I have to take care of myself first in order to care for those around me.”

Lisa Marie Moriarty

She Walks To Oceano 36x36

“Caring for my two adult disabled children diagnosed with non verbal autism and cerebral palsy has had a significant impact on my mental health. The stress and fatigue contribute to my anxiety and depression which I had never experienced before. It's challenging to maintain relationships and friendships and therefore a support system. It can be incredibly isolating and difficult for others to relate to and difficult to share what I go through.”

Rebecca Ackermann

Something's Growing, 2021. 1 in h x 2 in w x 2 in d

“My art practice grew out of my need to care for my own mental health while working and parenting my daughter. I have found that when I'm able to create space for my own work, caring for my child, my family, and my community nutures and expands my mental health and sense of self. When I don't reserve any energy for my own growth and processing, caretaking can feel stunting, overwhelming, and like a minefield of anxiety and obligation.”

Sue Watt

To care or not to care 120 x 150 cms

“Looking after a severely disabled child is fairly isolating and there is a lot of time to think and over think whilst you care. Emotions and feelings are sometimes a rollercoaster with extreme highs and lows and it is difficult to move from caring at an intense level to not. The physical act of caring can be switched from on to off, however your mind needs a little time to adjust and catch up. There is also little time for the subtle nuances of life so the version of me as a person becomes more direct and more honest. My mind is never fully switched off to my son and sometimes the worrying can be exhausting. But there are also some great times where by providing the best care for my son can lead to him doing something he has never done before. Something unexpected and of course, exceptional.”

Taylor Lee Nicholson

"Smile Like You Mean It," 24x24 inches, paper mache and acrylic on wooden panel, 2020

“I use my work in order to talk about things that are otherwise really hard for me to put into words. Namely, my experiences with bipolar disorder. I grew up in a family where it wasn't really normal to talk about our feelings, so I spent my whole life repressing my emotions and numbing myself out with whatever I could - an eating disorder, drugs, alcohol, and other self-destructive tendencies. In the past few years I've become a lot more stable via therapy and medication, and art empowered me to talk about my experiences. It is important for me to talk about those experiences, because a younger me would've appreciated knowing that they weren't alone. A younger me might have found balance and happiness sooner if they had access to someone who really understood what they were going through. For this reason I pour a lot of my emotions into my work, and while that is ultimately rewarding and impactful, it also takes a lot out of me. Sometimes when I've reached the limit of what I can give, I feel an overwhelming urge to retreat, shut down, ghost. I also feel pressure to always appear happy, because I want people to truly believe that it gets better and for some reason being honest about my bad days seems like it might contradict that message. This is a really hard thing to balance. Honesty, authenticity, and yet also taking care of my own mental health.”

Jessica Caldas

The Endeavor, 85 feet in length, dimensions variable

“The most important thing about my own mental health I have learned through caring for my daughter: if I do not find balance, if I do not care for my body and mind, if I do not find rest, time for myself, and time for my health, then I can not fully care for her. Caring for my physical and mental health allows me to better care for her (and others).”

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