you are not alone: murals with a message

One of my goals as an artist is to use art making as a mental wellness practice and as a way to connect to my fellow humans. That is why I was thrilled to discover You Are Not Alone murals, an initiative of Purpose Projects NY, Inc.

Inspired by the founder’s book about her experience with anxiety and the subsequent letters from her readers saying her book made them feel less alone, a new mural initiative was born. Artists from around the world can sign up to paint self-directed murals that feature the phrase “You Are Not Alone” and only use the colors yellow, black, white, and gray. When I discovered the initiative and required colors, I thought, “This is perfect for me and for Pittsburgh!”

A mockup for my proposed mural. No one is alone when the birds are singing, the trees are treeing, and people are talking about their own struggles with mental health.

In my mural mockup, I wanted to convey the idea that being in nature is a way to feel connected to oneself and the universe, even when people are not available. Additionally, I wanted the birds to symbolize the many people who struggle with their mental health, and how we can help others feel less alone by speaking up about our experiences. The more we talk about it, the more we connect and keep the isolation and stigma at bay. I have a mental health diagnoses myself—schizoaffective bipolar type here—and I am very fortunately in recovery, after many years of darkness. If I can help someone else see some light, then all is worth it.

Now to find a wall! If anyone knows of a blank wall that needs some life and a message of encouragement, please let me know! You can also see more of my work here. Cheers!

-jenisforlove