Facing Bi-Polar through the Depths of Depression

In College I was given a scenario to create a series of portraits which had to include my choice of an emotion. I was diagnosed Bi-Polar at the age of 15. I ha...
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In College I was given a scenario to create a series of portraits which had to include my choice of an emotion. I was diagnosed Bi-Polar at the age of 15. I have been stabilized for many years now, and have become an advocate for human rights; especially when it comes to this subject. So I created my project based on the "Faces" of Mental Health. After the assignment was finished, I decided that this would be one project that I would continue on throughout the rest of my life, or until I was satisfied that it was complete. My goal with this collection is to show what the emotions actually feel like, it's impossible to fully describe what your feeling during those manic and low low times... there aren't any words (in English anyway) to describe the pain. I'm hoping that one day maybe this work will help bridge the gap between patients, family, friends, doctors, and caregivers. This is one image of the depth and darkness of the pit of despair and depression of the low's of bi-polar. This is my Mother, it wasn't hard for her to play this part, she did raise me after all, but she had also just lost my step-dad to cancer. The cowboy hat that she is holding was his. We created the mascara smudge with water, I couldn't seem to make my mother cry. :D You can't tell from this photo, but we actually had a lot of fun and spent the afternoon laughing and telling jokes. The photo session took much longer than it should have! I should have pinched her and made her cry!
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