Sedated Galaxy

Artist Statement

This piece is for two medications I am no longer on that never fully helped. Olanzapine and hydroxyzine.

Black layer of spray paint. Then hydroxyzine laid down. Then yellow spray paint over that. Then a layer of clear gloss to hold the pills in place. Then another black layer, mod podge, sprinkled pills on top (hydroxyzine and olanzapine in this final layer), then sealed the whole thing in clear gloss.

The white specks read as stars, but they are the meds. Buried under black and gloss, still visible, still there. That is what sedation felt like, not gone, just sealed over. A galaxy you cannot reach because something heavy is sitting on top of it.

Deep black high gloss finish. It photographs gray under direct light but it is black in person. The gloss is part of it, that sealed, coated feeling.

Intent: when people see it, I want them to feel discomfort.