"On the Spectrum (Insomnia)"

Aloha Friends,

School starts in less than a week! I am so excited to begin my third year teaching high school students. I have a really good feeling about this year. And even though there is a lot of training and planning and general chaos I am sticking with this series. I am happy to say I should be well on my way to finishing by the end of the year *fingers crossed* Still looking for an idea for letter "Z!" If you've got a story to tell, please leave a comment or message me! Mahalo!

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On the Spectrum is a 26 part print series, one for each letter of the alphabet, that explores interactions of mental illnesses, developmental disorders and perceived normalcy as abstract landscapes. Please read my artist statement for more details.

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Artist Statement: There is a strange disconnect between mental illness and normalcy – as if there is a stark dividing line between the two: Black and white, us and them, completely separate. I believe this arbitrary classification, ill, healthy, recovering... is very similar to how we catalog our colors: blue, red, green... The visible color spectrum reflects the human experience. An experience where colors cannot be contained as single, definable points. The spectrum is one band of ever shifting, transitioning hues, as are we – our lives and our experiences are continuous and overlapping, yet discreet.

We all exist in a world with other people. We interact daily with a wide range of personalities. It is not possible to limit your experience to “normal.” We are but one piece in the cosmos. No one exists in a vacuum. So instead of pushing past others whose mental or physical health might not reflect exactly our own, we must embrace.

We are made of many parts: our personalities, our bodies, and our world.

***

On The Spectrum (Insomnia)

2015

Screen Print on Paper

15" x 11" 

$100 (unframed)

Details:

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Characteristics:

Insomnia, or sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder in which there is an inability to fall asleep or to stay asleep as long as desired. While the term is sometimes used to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic or actigraphic evidence of disturbed sleep, this sleep disorder is often practically defined as a positive response to either of two questions: "Do you experience difficulty sleeping?" or "Do you have difficulty falling or staying asleep?"

Insomnia is most often thought of as both a medical sign and a symptom that can accompany several sleep, medical, and psychiatric disorders characterized by a persistent difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep or sleep of poor quality. Insomnia is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomnia can occur at any age, but it is particularly common in the elderly.^[4]Insomnia can be short term (up to three weeks) or long term (above 3–4 weeks); it can lead to memory problems, depression, irritability and an increased risk of heart disease and automobile related accidents.

Golub, R. M. (2012). "Insomnia". JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical Association 307 (24): 2653–2653. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.6219

Roth, T. (2007). "Insomnia: Definition, prevalence, etiology, and consequences". Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 3 (5 Suppl): S7–10. PMC 1978319.PMID 17824495

Hirshkowitz, Max (2004). "10, Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Sleep and Sleep Disorders (pp. 315–340)". In Stuart C. Yudofsky and Robert E. Hales. Essentials of neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences (4 ed.). Arlington, Virginia, USA: American Psychiatric Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58562-005-0. Retrieved 2009-12-06. ...insomnia is a symptom. It is neither a disease nor a specific condition. (p. 322)

Zahn, Dorothy (2003). "Insomnia: CPJRPC". The Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal.

Wilson, Jennifer F. (2008). "Insomnia". Annals of Internal Medicine 148: ITC1.doi:10.7326/0003-4819-148-1-200801010-01001


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Don't forget to follow me on instagram if you'd like!

Mahalo for looking!

Boz Schurr

All work is copyright 2015 Boz Schurr. Please do not use without my permission. Mahalo!

The Recycled Rain Project - upcoming show!

Aloha Friends!

I am very pleased that I will again be included in the Recycled Rain Project at the Olymic Mills Gallery in Portland Oregon! This annual art show in focuses on water issues and encourages artists to become resourceful with their ideas and materials. It is always a fabulous show with incredible artists! I feel very fortunate to be included. Check out my pieces below and mahalo for looking!

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

The Recycled Rain Project was founded to help bring awareness to local artists and the various water issues facing both our state and other’s abroad.

The Fourth Annual Recycled Rain Project opens May 9th 2015 at the Olympic Mills Gallery Space in Portland, Oregon.  All juried artists will create original works with collected rainwater. While the subject matter in the paintings is varied, the over all concept is to bring to light simple ways that we can rethink the way we use water.

As part of the exhibit we will also highlight everyday things that individuals can do to make a difference. A portion of the sale of any works are donated to a water-based charity. We hope to do our small part to start a greater movement to help other’s realize what a precious commodity we have and ways that individuals can help make a difference here and abroad.

For RR 2013  we were able to add a children’s component to RR with the addition of RAINDROPS – a children’s gallery.  Now in our third year we want  to continue help educate children on the environment and bring them closer to art.

We are currently seeking classroom partners. Please contact sara@therecycedrainproject.org for more information regarding a classroom collaboration.

Here are the pieces I will be including in this year's show (Don't worry, these pieces each used recycled inks and materials):

On the Spectrum (Asperger's Syndrome) 

2015

Screen Print on Paper

15" x 11"

$100 (unframed)

 To read more about this piece and my On The Spectrum Print Series Click HERE.

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On the Spectrum (Bipolar Disorder) 

2015

Screen Print on Paper

15" x 11"

$100 (unframed)

To read more about this piece and my On The Spectrum Print Series Click HERE.

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Don't forget to follow me on instagram if you'd like!

You can also follow The Recycled Rain Project HERE!

Mahalo for looking!

Boz Schurr

All work is copyright 2015 Boz Schurr. Please do not use without my permission. Mahalo!

"On the Spectrum (Fregoli Delusion)"

Aloha Friends!

I have been busy in the studio this week! After traveling it's always a bit challenging to get back into the swing of things. I am really missing Japan, but I am happy to be back teaching and sleeping in my own bed. I do miss all the marvelous sake though... Thankfully I have my pictures and some beautiful memories to reflect on.

Anyway, this print marks the 6th print in my ongoing screen print series. Whew! Only 20 more prints to go! It seems like this series is taking forever and at the same time is moving very quickly. Hopefully once I hit 10 or 12 prints I'll get them all out for a group shot. Thanks for looking! And remember this series is all about perception and personal narratives, so if you have a personal story please don't hesitate to email me or leave a comment. I always want to hear from you.

***

On the Spectrum is a 26 part print series, one for each letter of the alphabet, that explores interactions of mental illnesses, developmental disorders and perceived normalcy as abstract landscapes. Please read my artist statement for more details.

***

Artist Statement: There is a strange disconnect between mental illness and normalcy – as if there is a stark dividing line between the two: Black and white, us and them, completely separate. I believe this arbitrary classification, ill, healthy, recovering... is very similar to how we catalog our colors: blue, red, green... The visible color spectrum reflects the human experience. An experience where colors cannot be contained as single, definable points. The spectrum is one band of ever shifting, transitioning hues, as are we – our lives and our experiences are continuous and overlapping, yet discreet.

We all exist in a world with other people. We interact daily with a wide range of personalities. It is not possible to limit your experience to “normal.” We are but one piece in the cosmos. No one exists in a vacuum. So instead of pushing past others whose mental or physical health might not reflect exactly our own, we must embrace.

We are made of many parts: our personalities, our bodies, and our world.

***

On The Spectrum (Fregoli Delusion)

2015

Screen Print on Paper

15" x 11" 

$100 (unframed)

Details:

Characteristics:

The Fregoli delusion, or the delusion of doubles, is a rare disorder in which a person holds a delusional belief that different people are in fact a single person who changes appearance or is in disguise. The syndrome may be related to a brain lesion and is often of a paranoid nature, with the delusional person believing themselves persecuted by the person they believe is in disguise.

A person with the Fregoli delusion can also inaccurately replicate places, objects, and events. This disorder can be explained by "associative nodes." The associative nodes serve as a biological link of information about other people with a particular familiar face (to the patient). This means that for any face that is similar to a recognizable face to the patient, the patient will recall that face as the person they know.

Tibbetts, Paul. " Symbolic Interaction Theory and the Cognitively Disabled: A neglected Dimension." Jstor. Winter 2004. Web. 28 September 2011 Symbolic Interaction Theory and the Cognitively Disabled: A Neglected Dimension

Mojtabai R (September 1994). "Fregoli syndrome". Aust N Z J Psychiatry 28 (3): 458–62. doi:10.3109/00048679409075874. PMID 7893241

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Don't forget to follow me on instagram if you'd like!

Mahalo for looking!

Boz Schurr

All work is copyright 2015 Boz Schurr. Please do not use without my permission. Mahalo!