In a world where everyone is judging everyone, it’s tempting to paint a façade. When my autoimmune disease disabled me in 2011, that temptation became stronger. Part of me wanted to appear extremely capable. Another part of me didn’t want to appear too capable, so I could get the help I needed. Those parts still coexist within me, constantly in battle as I struggle with the things I can and cannot do.
I like to wear the “Everything’s cool — I’m good,” mask. Why? Because it’s what people want to see. No one wants to see someone struggling.
When I heard that a group of Pinellas County ESE student are displaying their masks as artwork during St. Pete Art Walk, I was curious. Each of these students has their own challenges. How do they present themselves to the world? What are the masks they wear?
These Masks We Wear
March 9, 5-9 p.m. | The Tully Levine Gallery at the ArtsXchange, 515 22nd St. S., St. Petersburg | warehouseartsdistrictstpete.com
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This article appears in Mar 7-14, 2019.