In “I’ve Got A Lot on My Mind,” I bring together a photograph and vintage wallpaper of natural mineral patterns.I reference classical notions of portraiture; however, I play with viewers’ perceptions of what elements encompass the typical portrait composition, specifically by the removal of the facial details, replacing them with something unexpected. This artwork speaks to my lifelong experience with depression. I was a patient of the University of Alberta Hospital in 2006—2007 for my mental health struggles.

Alexis Marie Chute is a bestselling author and award-winning artist, photographer, filmmaker, curator, and public speaker. Her international art career has spanned twenty years and been decorated with over fifty noteworthy distinctions. She is the author of the fantasy trilogy Above the Star, Below the Moon, and Inside the Sun, along with the memoir Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss. She is also the writer-director-producer of Expecting Sunshine documentary film, which has screened at film festivals around the world. Her artwork is represented by the AR&S Gallery at the Art Gallery of Alberta.