Post 2 / Research / underconstruction

     I have done a lot of reading on rising depression rates in the U.S. these past few weeks for class. Through this process that I had a lot more questions about recent cuts in mental-health resource funding in schools throughout America. I found an article from the same publication as the one I used last week, but this one covers the broader subject of the matter. It is not just one or two schools in which resources for students are being slashed; the Department of Education has cancelled $1 billion of nationwide funding for school-based mental health funding. According to Governor Murphy, in New Jersey alone, $15 million is being cut. This is something deeply disappointing that I believe should be fought for; especially with these issues being greater than ever.

    Leading into my next question: why are depression and anxiety disorders prevalent now more than ever? Studies from the World Health Organization show that in the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, global rates for these illnesses jumped up 25%, an astronomical number. Young people and women are the most affected in this statistic. With a shortage of resources, we need to advocate for those in need, and be present for those we love and care about.

    The art intervention I'd like to create with my BFA will be about the lived experience of depression, and what it can feel look, or sound like. I am targeting those who might not understand, and those who can relate. I plan to make both large wheel-thrown vessels and flat slabs of clay. Using glaze chemistry, I want to create surfaces that depict mold and decay, adding a sense of grief onto the objects. I also want to write words and poetry onto these pieces, as I believe I can use it as a voice to create a vulnerable space. I want to create an honest, empathetic space that validates the heaviness of depression.

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