Starting Brave Conversations
The Neuro Blooms project began with my mixed media paintings based on brain scans of people experiencing different mental health conditions. I’m compelled by the beauty of PET scans, as well as their power to convey the brain’s role in mental illness. This project has personal roots in my own experience with major depression as well as my mother’s struggle with bipolar disorder.
In 2018 I partnered with Shiny Apple Studio to develop a series of enamel pins based on the original art. Initially released on social media, people post pictures in support of loved ones or tell stories of their own mental health conditions. The pins spark conversations about the causes and stigmatizing myths surrounding mental illness. The Neuro Blooms project has grown to include events in conjunction with art exhibits designed to deepen awareness of mental health issues.
Leslie Holt
Depression Stain (knotted) 2020
Acrylic and embroidery on canvas, 10 x 10”
Original Art Behind Neuro Blooms
My Brain Stain series exploits the aesthetic qualities of brain scans of people experiencing mental health conditions. PET scans measure changes associated with blood flow. Comparing scans reveals compelling differences between different diagnoses through presence, absence, and proportion of certain hues. For example, a PET scan of a depressed brain shows predominance of blue, which indicates decreased activity, and little yellow or orange, which indicates increased activity.
In this work, I combine solid areas of stitched embroidery thread with acrylic paint stains. Universal emotions are cloaked in the language of clinical technology. My interest is in this combination of objective data with more poetic interpretation as a reflection of both corporeal and clinical experiences of mental illness.
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What People are saying about Neuro Blooms
“AS A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST, I REALLY APPRECIATE INITIATIVES LIKE NEURO BLOOMS, THAT BRING LIGHT TO MENTAL ILLNESS IN A SUCH A CREATIVE WAY”
“I’M SO HAPPY TO OWN SOMETHING THAT CAN SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS IN A FUN WAY.”
“THE STRANGE BEAUTY OF THIS PIN (AND THESE IMAGES) WILL HELP START MUCH NEEDED CONVERSATIONS”
“THE IDEA OF ANXIETY IS THROWN AROUND SO FLIPPANTLY THESE DAYS AND IT CAN BE HARD FOR THOSE OF US WHO REALLY HAVE TO DEAL WITH SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE WE HAVE DIAGNOSED MENTAL DISORDER. THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PINS NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT’S BEAUTIFUL BUT I FEEL LIKE IT’S SO RESPECTFUL”
What is a PET Scan?
A brain positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that allows doctors and researchers to see how your brain is functioning. The scan captures images of the activity of the brain after radioactive “tracers” have been absorbed into the bloodstream. (healthline.com)
Currently, PET scans are tools that are helpful for researching areas of the brain impacted by psychiatric conditions. They are not yet used as diagnostic tools, in part due to variation in individual brains with the same diagnosis.
