This is from my ongoing series “Dat Bipolar Lyfe/Scrap Notes”, an autobiographical comic exploration of navigating life as a queer femme with mental illness. I drew this shortly after undergoing surgery on my nose, which I thought I would recover from very quickly and easily.
The reality of my healing journey was humbling. For folks with mood disorders, experiencing illness such as a flu, an injury, or some other affront to the system like having surgery can be the trigger for a depressive episode. Is it all just in my head or is it my body? The answer is yes.
Maren Kathleen Elliott is an emerging, queer interdisciplinary-social-practice artist who splits her time between Edmonton and Ottawa. Her modalities include illustration, mixed media, movement and music. Maren is passionate about arts accessibility, storytelling, mental health advocacy and community activation.
After studying psychology and music at the University of Alberta, she has worked as a distress line listener, practical support worker, outreach arts and music educator for all ages, dancer, and group fitness instructor. Maren completed residencies at the University of Alberta's Arts-based Research Studio and the Ottawa School of Art. Her work has been exhibited in cities across Canada and she has curated exhibits in Toronto, Edmonton, Ottawa and online.