Virtual Opening Reception

Patients who live with chronic health conditions face a myriad of different challenges day by day. What happens to these patients when they are now faced with a global pandemic such as COVID-19? What is going through their minds? How do they feel? By using spoken word, we attempt to explore some of the themes and ideas that our own PIE patients might be feeling right now amidst the chaos of COVID-19.

Our art object is a tiered tray of the kind you might expect at an English afternoon tea, loaded with welcoming finger foods. We wanted to celebrate the welcome each of our patients holds out to us health professionals when they share their stories and personalities with us. Food with its link to hospitality was our way of representing that welcome. We also wanted to make tasty, tasty food. And then eat it. The PDF documenting the art piece is meant to be just as accessible as the food, combining words and pictures in comic book style. In it, we reflect on individuality, relationships, food shaming, social isolation, and why cinnamon bun cookies are so, so good.

Our project is a children’s story book centered on a patient’s experience with chronic illness. It focuses on Kat who sets out on a journey of self-discovery beyond her chronic illness. In the beginning, Kat carries her red backpack everywhere. Like her chronic illness, it is an ever present aspect of her life, a constant weight on her shoulders. Through this journey, Kat rediscovers other aspects of her life - her passions, her relationships, and her aspirations. Kat comes to realize that the backpack holds much more than just her illness. Even though it might be the first thing that is noticed when she walks into the room, she rests easy knowing that it contains so much more.