about me
My name is Jen and I reside in New York City.
I am a practicing artist with a master's degree in Art Education from New York University. I am mostly a painter, but I experiment with all types of media.
Why I make diabetes art:
There are three major motivations for my art series entitled Type 1 Diabetes Revealed:
1. Community
Living with type 1 diabetes is complicated and can often result in feelings of isolation; at these times, having a community, a forum, a website, etc. to turn to can do a whole world of good. I hope that my artwork will engage those who are interested, spark dialogue and help people with type 1 diabetes to feel understood and certainly not alone.
2. Social Change
My goal is to increase awareness, debunk myths & stereotypes and educate about type 1 diabetes in an accurate and honest way; my hope is that in doing so, people will better understand type 1 diabetes and become advocates in the diabetes community. Moreover, by educating through art, I am making the understanding of type 1 diabetes accessible to a broader audience.
3. Art as Expression
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12. Living with diabetes from a young age has been a huge influence in my development. Although it is a challenging lot in life, it has shaped who I am and what I do in many ways; it is part of my identity. As an artist, I naturally express myself in the work that I create. Therefore, I felt an overwhelming urge to express the daily life and feelings of a young adult living with type 1 diabetes – a population that is essentially invisible in our society. On a personal level, it is very therapeutic to express myself. If I am frustrated or sad or happy or [fill in the blank] about a particular aspect of my diabetes – and can reflect upon and translate that into art – that feels good.
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