Chronic pain is invisible. We can change that.
“I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I had no words for,”
- Georgia O’Keefe.
Would you like to help others understand more about your experience of chronic pain?
Participants share their experiences remotely
The chronic pain experience will be captured both verbally and/or visually through sculpture, collage or any preferred visual medium.
For many people struggling with chronic pain, involvement in the visual arts can be a rewarding way of sharing the experience without having to explain it to those who might otherwise find it difficult to understand. - HealthCentral.com
Sign up
Complete a short online survey about your pain
Interview 1
Capturing your chronic pain experience in words
Create
Create a visual expression of your experience of pain
Interview 2
Survey and conversation to review your creation
How to Participate!
Share your story or your art to be published on our website.
What’s the project about?
This project is a personal one. Janna Kimel lives with chronic migraines and fibromyalgia and knows how difficult it can be for others to truly understand the experience of invisible pain.
Launching this project is a coming together of her love of art, empathy building and her experience as a researcher. She understands that chronic pain can be intense and isolating and wants to bring others together to visualize the experience and share their stories.
What will be done with the artwork?
The goals are to publish a paper, present at a conference, get a grant, and partner with an art gallery to host the work. If you participate remotely, you will be asked to send/email a photo of your work.
In the future, you may be asked to share your work and story in an exhibit, gallery, book, or article. If/when that comes to fruition, you will carefully pack your finished artwork and send it to a pre-determined location.
Who will be running the remote and in-person sessions?
Janna Kimel and members of the advisory board will be running sessions. Several advisory board members are experienced researchers and mental health professionals in the areas of health care, addiction and wellness.
All advisory board members are vetted professionals and dedicated to hearing your story and creating psychological safety during your session.
Where and when will the sessions take place?
Remotely, from your home or any convenient location. We'll have an introductory conversation. Afterwards, you will, go and create your work in your own time and space.
When you are ready, we’ll come back together (online) and discuss your creation and what it represents.
Have more questions?
Reach out to us if you have any questions about the Chronic Pain Project or how to get involved. We look forward to hearing from you!
