Documentation Process

I began creating the environment by using labels from pill bottles and shaped them by using a mix of glue and water. I chose the labels because of the oversaturated consumption of pills and the feeling that we need them in order to get through our lives. The black sewing string around the head represents the negative thoughts sometimes referred to as “monkey chatter”. I created a little book on the floor using a quote by Louis Hay that reads “Today is going to be a really really Good Day”. There are crumbled pieces of paper and sketch book pages on the floor representing the wanting to be positive but the lack of confidence in oneself. I used fabric felt for the floor and rug and a pill bottle cap as a base to set the scene on. I added a spiral as a backdrop to visually show the spiraling thoughts and I hung monkeys from the top to represent the negative thoughts. I placed everything into a round plant holder to represent the enclosed bubble a person can feel while still viewing the outside world. In looking at the stats from National Alliance on Mental Illness’ website, 18.1% of Americans live with anxiety disorders. It is something that people are uncomfortable talking about because of the stigma placed on them. My message is to find hope, support, remove the barriers and talk about it.