Funded by the University of Michigan Arts Initiative and the U-M School of Kinesiology, the Concussion Center, in partnership with Ypsilanti-based artist Avery Williamson, is proud to unveil a mural installation depicting individual patients’ recovery processes. The murals serve as a visual representation of the often misunderstood and underappreciated concussion experience, providing insights into what a concussion feels like and how a concussed brain heals.
Artist Bio
Avery Williamson is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores historical and contemporary notions of the archive. Her work adds dimension and spaciousness to narratives of the past, present and future. Through expressive marks, brushstrokes, dots, arrows, and line work she attempts to convey the complex and shared emotions of modern times. Her artwork has been featured in The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine and the Guardian News. She graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Visual Studies and currently lives and works in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Artist Website: https://www.averywilliamson.com/
Project Statement from the Artist – Avery Williamson
Through a series of interviews with people recovering from concussions, I was able to hear directly how concussions impact all parts of life. I learned how a concussion can impact people’s ability to speak, see, hear and process information. Participants in the project shared how everyday activities such as cooking and driving felt challenging after their concussions. Many shared that their bodies felt disconnected from their brains while they were recovering. Their concussions left them feeling isolated and detached.
Participants’ stories and emotions directly influenced the mural’s design and visual elements. I wanted to create a somewhat collaborative process, so I broke down my own artistic marks and invited participants to use them to express their experiences. I also asked participants to select colors that resonated with their recovery journeys, and integrated as many of these colors as I could into the final artwork.
I have not experienced a concussion so it was very important for me to listen to the stories of patients, and allow them to guide this mural. What I heard is that their concussions have profoundly shaped how they relate to their own minds and bodies. A universal response was that recovery was not linear: there were ups, downs, reversals, big leaps and standstill.
“I have not experienced a concussion so it was very important for me to listen to the stories of patients, and allow them to guide this mural. What I heard is that their concussions have profoundly shaped how they relate to their own minds and bodies. A universal response was that recovery was not linear: there were ups, downs, reversals, big leaps and standstills.”
– Avery Williamson, Artist
While concussions happen to individuals, the repercussions are far-reaching and involve partners, friends, children, educators, medical professionals, caregivers and colleagues. Through a diverse and recurring set of marks and symbols, I wanted to emphasize how we are all connected.
To learn more, check out the Project Story Video from Avery: