Our medical system is often separated into parts: the cardiologist specializes in the heart, the orthopedic surgeon specializes in joints and bones, the ophthalmologist specializes in the eyes, etc. Yet our bodies are interconnected. As we explore the body physiologically and metaphorically, we are reminded that stories affecting one part of the body ultimately ripple out into the rest of our bodies and lives. The creation of these books reinforces the idea that we can never totally separate parts from the whole being.
After practicing the elements of storytelling, honing their interview skills, and exploring medically-themed poetry and personal essay, students wrote a body part narrative about themselves and an illness profile about someone else. Each student then chose one of these essays to re envision into artist book. In transforming their work, students had to make choices about what would be shown in images, what words would be eliminated, what words would remain, and how metaphor would affect the layout and structure of the book. What resulted is a beautiful exploration of the body and of the realities of illness.
We are grateful for USM Special Collections, Osher Map Library, Maine Women Writers Collection, and especially our visiting artist, Rachel Church, who helped us understand how to transform essays, weave in research, and create beautiful books.
