Embedded Files
A multimedia art show by Charlie Guterman
the project
the project
Concussion is often called the invisible injury as its symptoms are not outwardly obvious like a scrape, burn, or broken bone. For this reason it can be difficult for people with concussions to express and justify their struggles and limitations when they look “normal.”
Concussion is often called the invisible injury as its symptoms are not outwardly obvious like a scrape, burn, or broken bone. For this reason it can be difficult for people with concussions to express and justify their struggles and limitations when they look “normal.”
After experiencing two concussions this past fall I have felt a good deal of pressure to “get better;” go out at night, do my work, be “okay.” I followed the health center protocol and I look fine, but I’m not yet. So I have worked in charcoal, pen, paint, and audio to render the effects of concussion visible. I hope to convey my experience and the experience of others in a way that is tangible and understandable. My goal with this project is to legitimize the healing process, reinforce that discomfort is valid, and that it is alright to not always feel okay.
After experiencing two concussions this past fall I have felt a good deal of pressure to “get better;” go out at night, do my work, be “okay.” I followed the health center protocol and I look fine, but I’m not yet. So I have worked in charcoal, pen, paint, and audio to render the effects of concussion visible. I hope to convey my experience and the experience of others in a way that is tangible and understandable. My goal with this project is to legitimize the healing process, reinforce that discomfort is valid, and that it is alright to not always feel okay.
I hope the pieces I have created will spark conversation about both the physical and psychological impacts of concussion as well as the ways this “invisible” injury manifests on this campus.
I hope the pieces I have created will spark conversation about both the physical and psychological impacts of concussion as well as the ways this “invisible” injury manifests on this campus.
the pieces
the pieces
“Stretch”
“Stretch”
19” x 25” Charcoal on paper
19” x 25” Charcoal on paper
When the brain experiences a concussion, the membranes of neurons (nerve cells) are stretched and twisted, setting off a chain reaction of chemical imbalances which cause symptoms of headache, nausea, and dizziness. I hope this visualization shows that something measurable is happening on the cellular level to cause vague and inconsistent headaches.
For more information:
“There is no Timeline”
“There is no Timeline”
13’ x 7” Pen and pencil on paper
13’ x 7” Pen and pencil on paper
Headaches are hard to describe and impossible to see. This collection of symptom sketches that I drew almost daily over the course of four months helped me show others (and also myself) that my symptoms were real.
“Routine”
“Routine”
18” x 24” Oil on canvas
18” x 24” Oil on canvas
Certain vitamins and supplements are suspected to be beneficial to brain health-Magnesium, B12-melatonin for sleep. They are often prescribed to those whose concussion symptoms linger. I took them for a few months.
“Everything was miked”
“Everything was miked”
32s Ambient audio of plates, microwave, toaster, dresser drawers
32s Ambient audio of plates, microwave, toaster, dresser drawers
Yvonne Abraham writes an incredibly poignant article about her concussion experience in The Boston Globe in which she says “The world was suddenly too bright and too loud, as if everything was miked.” This resonated strongly with me. In this recording I have attempted to capture the way everyday noises can become overwhelming.
**This piece is quite loud**
Find the full article here:
“HIGH ALERT”
“HIGH ALERT”
19” x 25” Pen on paper
19” x 25” Pen on paper
Post concussion syndrome is a condition where a person’s body is constantly scanning for threats and looking for ways to reassure itself. These drawings of abstracted nerve cells are intentionally anxious, textural, and jittery to represent these feelings. Even after I recovered, I am still overly cautious about my brain and even light bumps of my head can make me worry.
the show
the show
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse