digital photograph
“Bzzzz! Ding! All sounds that used to excite you. A new art project, support from your coach, a new friend. But you just stare, deep into the void, the deep dark void of your thoughts, of your mind, as you slowly fall deeper and deeper until it engulfs you. Until the void is all you know, all your brightly colored hope fades into black and white. Mental health is an important social issue that everyone must face at some point in their life, but there is a rising mental health crisis in Gen Z. The mirror, style, and black and white features of the image represent the dark, depressing thoughts we face while the rainbow colors represent hope and symbolize no matter how deep we are into our struggles, there’s always hope and there is value in continuing on and speaking out about our issues. You are strong. You can get through this. And even if those dark thoughts never completely fade away you can make peace with them and learn to continue on and not let them define or overcome you.”
ARTIST BIO: Sophie Gray is a grade 11 student at Summit Country Day HS studying art under art teacher Carrie Barnett.