Name
L Palacio

Brain Tumor Type
Craniopharyngioma

Date of Diagnosis
10/10/2000

Age Group (If you are a caregiver/family member please check Caregiver/Family Member)
Adult: 21 and over

Category
Multimedia/2D/3D

Artist Statement (include type of art, techniques & materials used, what it means to you)
This piece took me a long time to complete it’s composed of seven layers stacked on top of one another. I made this piece by cutting out the individual shapes in cardboard then using strip of corrugated cardboard glued around the edge to make a three dimensional shape. After respecting this process with every piece I then glued the layers together and coated the seams in wall putty to create a more cohesive piece. This also provided it with the rough look I wanted. It was then mounted on the wall using wire and glued in wood blocks to hold it up.

This piece was modeled after a really bad bruise I had taken a picture of it got me thinking about the depth of a bruise with all the colors a bruise turn denoting the depth of the injury. This made me think about all the hardship I’ve had to face in my life partly due to being a brain tumor survivor and the depths at which my experience has hurt me and being overlooked due to my inability to express that damage to others. This piece is that expression a physical representation of seeing this depth taking from the saying “it’s more than skin deep” it symbolizes the invisible pain many people carry. It’s an expression of my own depth of character and reminder of how complex a person is past their surface.

Bio (include your age, tumor type and date of diagnosis)
Hi! My name is L I’m 25 years old and one semester away from graduating with my bachelor’s in fine arts. I was diagnosed with a crainopharyngioma at just two years old on October the 10th 2000. I had a total resection and have been in remission for coming up on 23 years. I still deal with many of the side effects from my tumor which was rather large including blindness in my right eye and tunnel vision in my left everything that come with a missing pituitary gland including bone density issues fatigue and lot of medication and hospitalizations. That said I haven’t let that stop me in perusing Art in some ways it may be the reason I became so interested in art. Nothing brightened up my long hospital stays and sick days more then being able to do crafts or color. I remember being jealous other kids got to do all these things that I couldn’t, but when it came to art I felt more free from the chronic illness I live with and helped me endure all the struggles I’ve been through. No matter how much this tumor has taken from me art is the one thing it will never be able to. This gives me comfort and continues to inspire me down my artistic path.