Spotlight: Woodbury Rand

“Self Care in an Uncaring World,” or Tips on Thriving The Apocalypse is a free interactive comic encouraging self care during difficult times. This comic was to be part of my workshop at the Graphic Medicine 2020 conference in Toronto, but for obvious reasons, that doesn’t work. So I’m happy to have the chance to share it here.

 

Originally conceived after a certain current administration began a policy of detaining children at the border, it became difficult to manage my own well-being when so many people who were suffering. I know many people, including myself, felt helpless and overwhelmed. I wanted to make something that would encourage people to take care of themselves, manage their mental and physical health needs, to perhaps invigorate and empower the type of community organizing that was happening around Chicago (back then and now) in direct opposition to those policies. Now, this comic feels even more needed than ever with continued COVID-19 quarantining and collective trauma happening in our communities. Even with that kind of bleak premise, this comic is meant to be fun, and meaningful – and you can make it your own! You are the expert on your life, you know what makes you feel your best self.

 

Please feel free to share the panels and pages you create with your self care with me @WoodburyRand on Instagram! Keep an eye out for chapter two and other comics there as well. Please also credit me (Woodbury Rand) on citations to the work. Don’t forget – if you are taking care of yourself, you are making your community better one person at a time. Be safe and be well!

 

Emma W Rand

Art Therapist, Artist

Adler University Masters in Counseling: Art Therapy