Friday 21 February 2014

The Sketchbook Project



Back in November, I took part in the Trinity College Vis Arts initiative of the global Sketchbook Project. The basic concept was to get a bunch of people (not necessarily artists) to keep a sketchbook for a month, to gain insight into projects in development and everyday doodles rather than finished projects. At the end of the month, all the sketchbooks were put on on display in Exchange Dublin (which will probably be shut down soon, very sadly). The sketchbook ended up being really important to me, as it gave me an outlet for dealing with the topsy-turvy mess that is my mental health. Doodling my feelings away proved to be a lot better for me than the "wehhh I'm sad and my meds don't work" mentality I too often am crippled by. It was also quite important for me in that it was the first time I was telling anyone and everyone who happened to pick up my little book that I am Someone with Mental Illness Difficulties. There was something reassuring about the fact it could be complete strangers reading it, and perhaps that is why it's taken me so long long to put these photos up here, on a blog that my IRL people know exists. Gulp.