Where in the World Have New Diseases Emerged?

"What new viruses are emerging in your backyard? 

If you’re a germaphobe, make sure you’re sitting down.

Back in 1999, a woman in California cleaned up rodent droppings in her home. Two weeks later, her liver started failing. Then she started to bleed internally — a hemorrhagic fever that would kill her. Eventually doctors found a new virus in her body, which very likely came from a rat.

A few years later, a man in Arizona went to the hospital. The skin on his legs was infected and dying. Doctors had to amputate. His diagnosis? A new kind of leprosy.

Over in the Midwest, the problem has been new tick-borne diseases, some deadly. And in New England, doctors are dealing with a disease that causes Lyme-like symptoms but is caused by a different bacteria.

The pattern continues across the country and across the world. A spike in new infectious diseases is the new normal.

      Another side effect of humanity’s conquest of the natural world."

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Changes

 

Though very simple, this image can be a great strating off point for discussion of changes.

In Anxious Anticipation

Aaron Tilley (in collaboration with director Kyle Bean) has created the art series 'In Anxious Anticipation'.

His piece  "explore[s] the curious connection between how the mind perceives the world and conveys these reactions in their physical body." (source)

There is also an essay written by Jordan Kushins to go with the series. 

"The story (“In Anxious Anticipation”) revolves around this idea that visuals can invoke feelings of expectation and dread; from the ink droplet dangling precariously over a pressed white shirt, to a row of bricks about to collapse onto a dainty champagne goblet, the images aim to induce an empathetic rush of anticipation. Adrenaline flows from the adrenal glands, a result of stimulation of the autonomic nervous system. Through this magazine issue, the artistic designers wish to titillate the thrill-seekers amongst us and discover the ability of the artificial to induce this dreadful joy within our bodies."  (source)

See Life's Changes in a Single Room

Here is an example of art that reflects the changes in mood and circumstance through life. This could be a great discussion prompt for emotional change, naming feelings, or how to respond to difficult situations.

"Dorothy O'Connor translates events from her life into a surreal ongoing series called Scenes. For years, the artist has transformed spaces—often a room—into fantastical places that tell a story. Visually rich and exciting, they feature elements of the natural world that are handcrafted by O’Connor. In one room, a den of snakes line a ceiling, while in another, over 200 paper birds circle the space. A giant tornado—which has over 500 feet of fabric around it—engulfs the contents of another. These awe-inspiring sights are interactive and initially displayed as installations (with live models) in galleries and other art spaces. The tornado, for instance, actually rotated during its opening.

Every concept in Scenes is predominantly shaped by O’Connor’s experiences. As a result, these spaces double as a conceptual autobiography and creating them is a cathartic experience. “Building these life-sized installations also allows me to literally live inside my own imagination,” she writes, “if only for a short time and satisfies the need to create a more aesthetically pleasing reality.” Each project takes her months to complete, and after the scenes have debuted, they remain only as a photograph."

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It's Hardly Noticeable

John William Keedy explores anxiety in his photo series It's Hardly Noticeable.