Plaster molds have been constructed from which giant, hollow ceramic pills are being cast. I have been speaking with people from varying walks of life about what would help them heal, find peace, alleviate depression, and anxiety, other than the traditional modern method of simply taking a pill. My general or preliminary focus for the project concerns disabilities and suffering related to mental i
llness, as well as coping with life-changing diagnoses including cancer and HIV. The idea is to then fill these pills, of which there will be many, with objects (symbolic, abstract, or otherwise - scrolls of wisdom, acceptance, power objects, acupuncture needles, Chinese herbs, crystals, stones, a ring, a smile, a hug, a breath, kind words, reminders of beauty, expressions of nature and humanity) based on the responses I get, as well as my own personal experience. The pills will then be given away (mailed out, handed out on the street, on campuses, taken to hospitals, shelters, nursing homes, foster homes - wherever there’s a need) to those who could benefit, as a gesture of kindness, caring, and community. This project is centered on bringing humanity to issues that are often dehumanized, monetized and capitalized on by the pharmaceutical industry - made scientific and stigmatized. The Pill Project will continue to help effectively break down both social and personal barriers, resulting in conversation, community building, and the opening of a dialogue between people that in itself has great potential to heal. What’s in your Pill? Contact - [email protected]
