Face IT (3)

Creator

Kate LeBlanc

Preview

Creation Date

2024

Description

One unexpected morning I woke up with one sided facial paralysis and was confused, saddened and concerned. At the time I wasn’t aware that I had Lyme Disease. When I was awfully sick and full of fatigue I didn’t think of it being the early stages of Lyme. I thought it was my annual cold and sore throat. Two weeks later, I finally got over my sickness and that is when I discovered my half functioning face. In my Artist book I capture the moment when I first discovered my face in the mirror. My diagnosis was Bell’s Palsy resulting from Chronic Lyme Disease. When I was looking around in the Osher Map Library for inspiration, I found this globe gore map from Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center Collection and instantly thought of the idea of doing broken up parts of my face to represent Bell’s Palsy. I was undecided of what to use for materials to make my drawings until I found the option of using watercolor paints. I felt watercolor paint can be a harder material to manipulate but the goal of my piece was to be abstract to convey my feelings and images. The abstract images were to also show how my face was creepy and not normal. During this process I learned that making an artist book is freedom because I can create whatever I want and choose how I want to do it. It was relaxing to create this piece and am excited to share it with you.