Artist’s Statement:
The line between living and merely existing can be a blurry one. Even though MS isn’t necessarily a death sentence, it’s certainly a life sentence. So, even though you may not be physically dead at 40 (or at whatever age you’re diagnosed), the ‘old’ you – or at least a part of it – has died. I eventually learned how important it was to acknowledge that, before I could move on, knowing that life isn’t over – just different now. Dark moods can be a part of having this disease, and I was definitely in one when I created this image.
Bio:
Music has always been my first love, but after getting my BMus from University of Toronto, I switched directions and studied art at OCAD. After graduating I worked as an Art Director at various advertising agencies before eventually becoming Group Creative Director at MacLaren Toronto. As my MS symptoms progressed, the demands of that career – the fast pace and demanding hours – finally became too much to handle.
Since 2014 I’ve been on long-term disability. I’ve had to say goodbye to many aspects of my ‘old’ life, as I learn to accept the realities of my new life. I use my creative hobbies to remain connected with the world around me, specifically painting, illustration, and writing music. This disease can be very cruel, in that over time parts of your body and/or mind seem to die one at a time, and you never know what will be next or when it will occur. I’ve had to learn to make friends with uncertainty. MS may not be a death sentence, but it is indeed a life sentence.