For my piece "Branching Out", I wanted to create a piece of art that was colorful and inviting while also creating a sense of discomfort and uneasiness. My inspiration from Norman Warsinske's "Wall Relief" was the idea that this seal is meant to protect you from evil, whatever form it may take. For me, my fear--my "evil" is something that pretends to care, but is actually very harmful. Self-hatred, depression, anxiety--they trick you into believing the worst of things, and that perhaps the best option is to simply disappear. They make you feel as if they are comforting you at your lowest of times. They sprout from you until you see nothing but shapes, and you feel nothing. You're numb. But this is obviously the best solution, right? You cant feel the tightness in your chest after a panic attack or the scratches you gave yourself if you simply cannot feel anything. This is the lie that I have to remind myself isn't true every day. No matter how inviting they may be, I know that they truly do not care about my well-being. Its something that I'll have to live with the rest of my life, but for now I can confidently say that I know whats best for me-- and they dont. - Tori Peterson

My piece, entitled Pinch, represents several factors colluding against me. The dark, spindly, skeletal hand reaching for the small, featureless object in the foreground is meant to evoke a feeling of being cornered and overwhelmed by negative forces. The red aura surrounding the hand adds to the intensity and urgency of the situation. Comprising the shadows is a cross-hatching which gives the piece a graphic feeling, something not quite real but still sharp and visceral. The borders in each of the corners give the image shadowy overtones and creates a disconnect between the viewer and the image. This image holds several meanings. I wanted to express how it feels being abused and disowned by your family, as I have. The “pinch” that the title refers to is the shape of the hand: a pinched gesture with thumb and forefinger pressed together. This is the gesture my mother would use when she was verbally abusing me, using slurs and specific attacks with pinpoint accuracy to strategically bring down every last bit of my self-esteem. The cross-hatching is a reference to my dad’s art style, which is very graphic and angular and shaded entirely using cross-hatching. It surrounds the image in the shadows, referencing my dad’s codependency and unwillingness to stand up for me. Even after I was disowned and left homeless, the imprint of the abuse is still there. Another meaning this piece represents is my struggle with mental illness. I have schizoaffective disorder (among many). I tried to capture the paranoia of a nebulous force targeting me from which I cannot hide or escape. The figure is rounded and featureless to signify the powerlessness I feel during an Episode, and also to resemble a pill. I have to take a cocktail of four different medications to keep my illness under control and doing so can often feel like it’s just barely keeping my symptoms at bay. Also, the likeness to a pill is reminiscent of one of the five suicide attempts I have endured to date. -Lindt Schmitz

My piece focuses on how I personally find safety and peace, while incorporating the original Wall Relief. I take a moment everyday to find beauty in life, whether that’s through yoga, watching the sunset, or even spending a moment with my plants and kitty. I chose the warmer color palette because I feel safe and secure. For me, focusing on the warmth and good in my life is how I deal with the negatives of life. Norman Warsinske's Wall Relief is created as a seal meant for protection against evil, and optimism is my symbol of safety. - Kiya Coon