Erin Albrecht: BFA Artist Talk

Facilitated by Western Gallery intern Monique MarcAurele.

Artist Statement

"The Diner" installation utilizes screen printing and everyday objects to represent my personal struggles with chronic illness. I was diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome within the last 3 years, and it has changed the way I not only create art but how I go about my day-to-day life.

In my creative work I am interested in exploring the relationship between chronic illness and printmaking. The repetition in printmaking mirrors the repetitive nature of chronic illness— the cycles of flare-ups, recovery, and the quiet endurance that becomes second nature. While not being specific to any certain illness, The Diner opens a dialogue around chronic illness and is also a self-portrait of my own experience. The piece is largely inspired by Spoon Theory, which is a metaphor for how fast people with chronic illness go through their energy supply; with spoons representing energy. The theory was created in a diner by Christine Miserandino in 2003, so I wanted to integrate elements of a diner into my installation. The saltshaker represents the large quantity of salt I need to consume to raise my blood pressure. Whereas the printed spoons emerging from the salt shaker show a range of different types of spoons with some reflecting the skeletal structure of my body that are affected as well as the reflections of my friends and myself. The bent, twisted and broken spoons represent the bodies of those with chronic illness where the “normal” spoons represent able bodies.

With my installation I am hoping that the piece will appear comforting and a space where people can share their experiences of having chronic illness but also show the hardships and struggles of chronic illness.