Our Every Day
Faculty Sponsor
Liz Wuerffel
College
Arts and Sciences
Discipline(s)
Art
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 2019
Abstract
Our Every Day is a photo book that focuses on the concept of mental illness (specifically anxiety and panic disorders) through photographs and experiences of those diagnosed. Ashley recruited multiple people who have been diagnosed with an anxiety and/or panic disorder and had them fill out a survey asking them about their experiences and coping mechanisms. Quotes from the surveys were put next to the photos in the final photo book created. The photographs are a visual representation of the various sensory perceptions people go through when dealing with high anxiety and panic. They prompt the viewer to look at the world from a viewpoint other than their own. Ashley's goal is to encourage the viewer to reconsider certain preconceived ideas they might have, or at the very least help them become aware of what assumptions they make on a daily basis. Not only is this project for those who haven’t been diagnosed, but it is also for others who have been diagnosed. She wants to help those who participate to know that they are not alone and that they are valuable and capable of so many things. Ashley has always been passionate about mental health awareness, especially since she has been diagnosed with a mental illness herself.
Recommended Citation
Borg, Ashley, "Our Every Day" (2019). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 760.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/760
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Ashley chose mental illness as the concept because it is a topic she has been passionate about for years having been diagnosed with anxiety. Her passion for art has been an essential coping mechanism, and that's what lead her to become a Digital Media Art major. Ashley thoroughly enjoyed combining her two biggest passions (mental health and photography) for this project and she hopes to continue to explore this concept further.