Hidden Truths Project is a program utilizing art as an educational tool to improve societal consciousness about epilepsy to abolish barriers and misconstrued biases, and to educate our society on the truths of this condition. Above all, the goal of the project is to raise awareness about the pervasiveness of epilepsy and to improve the quality of life for those individuals with epilepsy, their families, and caregivers. Our signature event, 1:26 The Art of Epilepsy, continues to draw from the broader national and international community of individuals, children, and adults, whose lives are touched by epilepsy.
We are excited to add to the website a featured artist of the month. In April, the featured artist is Richard Davis. Mr. Davis has been a participating artist in the Art of Epilepsy since 2014. He has graciously shared his personal journey with epilepsy through the visual arts with the goal of raising awareness about this condition, educate the public the realities of what it means to live with epilepsy, and improve the well-being for all individuals here and abroad living with the challenges of this condition.
This months art is titled Hope. An apropos title at this time of uncertainty and sheltering in.
Hope is something that covers every part of our life from the day we are born until our life is completed. The definitions of hope, “expect with confidence” and “to cherish a desire with anticipation.” A perfect verse says it all, “Hope deferred (postponed) makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes it is a tree of life”.
The purpose of this painting is to share with you how I see hope in life like everyone desires to see it, as well as to express how people living with epilepsy can still live with hope in spite of the pain, loneliness, and sufferings which often come from having seizures. It is the same as those who have had cancer or have a loved one who is experiencing trials in their life. I have lived with seizures for most of my life and continue to live with ‘hope’.
Most people I have met through life have had the opportunity to work stable jobs and have enjoyed pleasures in life such as success in their education, having a meaningful career, and working towards a goal they look back on and see the accomplishments they have achieved.
The first part of this painting expresses how I see life with the beauty of friendship, love, peace, and bright, soft colors in the surroundings, which give the feeling of being wanted and loved with a life free from disabilities that can hold back the pleasures of life.
The bottom half of this painting is to show how it feels to live with a disability, which can prevent the simple, things like driving, engaging with a group of people – even one person, without the fear of a seizure harming a friendship. Seizures often cause one to be filled with fear, loneliness, solitude, depression and mostly humiliation, which common people cannot always understand. It is also to show how a person living with epilepsy still has hope for a future and the dream of being out of the darkness of seizures and having the acceptance of others despite their seizures. Richard Davis
Please consider supporting us in our efforts to share the powerful stories and art of our global population with epilepsy!
Featured art of Mr. Davis: Beauty Among the Thorns, Hope, When the Electric Charge Begins
http://richarddavisart.weebly.com/
