Where Creativity Meets Connectivity
Chronic pain is invisible. We can change that.
“I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I had no words for,”
- Georgia O’Keefe.
Would you like to help others understand more about your experience of chronic pain?
Participants share their experiences remotely
People who live with chronic pain create art, all levels of creativity are welcome.
Creators may work in any preferred visual medium.
For many people struggling with chronic pain, involvement in the visual arts can be a rewarding way of sharing the experience without having to explain it to those who might otherwise find it difficult to understand. - HealthCentral.com
Sign up
Complete a short online survey about your pain
Create
Create a visual expression of your experience of pain
Interview
Survey and conversation to review your creation
How to Participate!
Share your story or your art to be published on our website.
What’s the project about?
This project is a personal one. Janna Kimel lives with chronic migraines and fibromyalgia and knows how difficult it can be for others to truly understand the experience of invisible pain.
Launching this project is a coming together of her love of art, empathy building and her experience as a researcher. She understands that chronic pain can be intense and isolating and wants to bring others together to visualize the experience and share their stories.
What will be done with the artwork?
Currently, art made by people with chronic pain is being shared in live exhibits in community spaces. We’ve had several shows in the Pacific Northwest and hope to expand to the Midwest and east coast in the not too distant future. The shows encourage community and conversation. Seeing 30 pieces of art on the topic of chronic pain makes it difficult to look away. It allows an immersive experience and brings visibility to the invisible experience of chronic pain.
In the future, we may publish papers, present at a conference, and possibly publish a book.
Who will be conducting the interviews?
Volunteers will be conducting interview sessions. Several board members are experienced researchers and mental health professionals in the areas of health care, addiction and wellness. They are training volunteers to gather your stories with care.
All volunteers are dedicated to hearing your story and creating psychological safety during your session.
Where and when will the interviews be conducted?
Remotely, from your home or any convenient location. We record the interviews, with your consent, and then cut them down to size to share on YouTube and Instagram (again, with your consent). It’s powerful to see all of the different pieces of art, and even more powerful to hear directly from our artists on what each piece means to them and a bit of their personal history with chronic pain.
Have more questions?
Reach out to us if you have any questions about the Chronic Pain Project or how to get involved. We look forward to hearing from you!
Thank you to the Regional Arts & Culture Council for their support and sponsorship!