Seeing as how all of my creative mindspace is currently going into selecting bathroom tiles and countertops (oy, remodel madness!), I almost dropped the ball on today’s special holiday: Diabetes Art Day.
This movement is the brainchild of D-blogger and Diabetes Art Therapist Lee Ann Thill. “Diabetes art therapist?!” you say. Yes, indeed. Please review Lee Ann’s recent guest post here about the therapeutic qualities of art expression for people living with the ultra-frustrating and oft-depressing condition of diabetes.
The diabetes online community has jumped on board to share their creative juices via various artwork forms today. Google the term “Diabetes Art Day” today to discover the many, many contributions. You can also check out the dLife-based group that Lee Ann has created called Art of Diabetes.
If you are one of the creative — yet organized! — types posting original art for the occasion today, don’t forget to link back to Lee Ann’s site for a chance to win a copy of the fabulous new book No-Sugar Added Poetry, a collection of diabetes prose created by the Diabetes Hands Foundation and TuDiabetes.
Personally, I’m more of a wordsmith than a painter or sculptor. But I wanted to share a few of my favorite D-Art genrés today:
First off, Kids’ Art, made with love by my very own 11-year-old daughter:
In the general “Cartoon” category, we have a “MindMap of New Diagnosis” by Paul Forman of MindMapInspiration.com:
In the “Oils” category, have a look at “Glucose” by molecules artist Klari Reis:
In the “Glassworks” category, here is a a 3D model of human insulin by G. David Smith:
And last not least, in the “Warhol” category (?), “Blood Test” by an unknown artist:
As you can see, art invokes psychological exploration, intellectual curiosity, and venting of emotions.
Who knew there was already so much diabetes-inspired art?
A list of galleries to visit, courtesy of Lee Ann:
Drawing Diabetes
Diabetes Supplies Art
Type 1 Diabetes Revealed
Diabetes Art on flickr
Diabetes Art At Justice’s Misbehaving Pancreas
I wish you all and inspired — and inspiring — Diabetes Art Day!
Very cool stuff here Amy!
The picture your daughter did is fantastic! I like all the faces because God knows I have made all of those before, and then some!
Awesome art!
Great post. Your daughter is talented.
That last one is pretty awesome.
What a great collection of diabetes-inspired art! First, your daughter’s art sure does say it all! I’m so impressed that she captured all those negative feelings states, but also showed hope with her use of color and the inclusion of the blue circle. It’s so nicely done!
The other pieces you chose are great – a wide variety, all exploring diabetes – but I am in love with the “Glucose” painting! It’s stunning!
Thanks for posting all of these, and a big thanks to your daughter for sharing her Diabetes Art Day contribution! It’s been a wonderful community effort from young and old, t1′s, t2′s, and a few t3′s like her, which is always a fascinating perspective to get.
I did not know there was such a day. In the U.S., it seems anything can be celebrated with a special day. Sometimes it is good, as in Diabetes Art Day, but some of the others I have seen, are just plain ridiculous.
Thank you for promoting a day that is worthwhile and will hopefully bring attention to this disease and things that can be done to prevent some from ending up with it like I did.
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Thank YOU, Lee Ann, for organizing this great ‘creativity fest’! I love how each one of us in the D-OC brings something new & unique to the table.
This is great stuff! I’ve been looking for someting to keep my 85 year old diabetic Mom excited about life, I’ll send her this post
I particularly find it interest in all the range of human emotions and conditions that can be expressed using artwork as a medium, and the compilation here shows such great variation.