Take a look at the paragraphs and paintings on the LAAP page to get an idea of what we are looking for, then write a short paragraph with a good visual element that expresses your Lyme experience. Your photo is going to need to visually express what you have written in your short paragraph so look for a theme that will create a painting that provokes emotion from the viewer. Remember to focus on one visual element as the others did, with Glenn it was losing his ability to write, with J.W. it was losing her faith, with Elizabeth it was looking for sea glass to restore her inner peace. After I have your paragraph with a good visual element I will help guide you on how to have your photo taken to match your paragraph so that it can be transformed into a stirring portrait.
You will also be writing a longer personal essay that covers as many of the questions below as possible. Please do this as if you were telling the viewer of the painting your personal Lyme story, not just answering a list of questions. You can read other essays by clicking the links under the paintings on the website to get ideas for your essay ( I am still waiting for some essays). The essay cannot be any longer than two typed pages. Sorry but with so many submissions I need to put all the energy into the paintings and as little as I can into the paperwork and editing side of this project.
What was your life like before Lyme ? What were your goals?
How did it manifest in your body, what were your symptoms?
What changes were you forced to make in your life, job, friends, family etc.?
What, if anything, were you forced to give up because of your illness?
How long did it take you to get diagnosed and how long have you had Lyme?
How did you get diagnosed?
How are you treating it?
If you are using long term antibiotics do you fear the possibility of your Dr. losing his license to practice medicine?
Did insurance coverage affect the treatment path you chose?
How do you see your future now? Is it hopeful, frightening or unsure? Will you be able to reach your pre-Lyme goals or have your goals change either for the good or bad??
I am adding each LAAP submission to a list. We will go through each submission and I will paint the ones that will translate into the most powerful Lyme paintings and best depict the pain and loss that Lyme causes in the lives of sufferers. The poems/paragraphs and photos will be displayed with the paintings so please tell me if you want to remain anonymous.
Get creative with this, show the world that Advanced Neurotoxic Lyme is a growing problem, that it hurts both the sufferers and their loved ones and that more research must be done before any more people suffer or even die from this horrible disease! Please read the guidlines before sending in your submission.(See link below)
Important Note:
Please check your spam or junk mail folders for my replies to your emails. I am having problems sending email to certain email accounts, they get some but not all of my responses . Also please Type “Lyme” or “LAAP” as the subject in your first email to me so I can fish the ones that land in my junk mail folder out more quickly.
