PUSH DOWN & TANGO is a public community arts installation I designed to shift the paradigm around illness in my home town and nationally. The work grew out of my own experience with tango lessons which I took in spite of chronic pain and fatigue.
Backers of the project sponsored Resiliency Roses in honor of survivors they admired in exchange for having their honoree's names hand lettered on the piece's dance floor, surrounding the Loyalty Leaves.
By highlighting the resiliency of survivors, the project empowered viewers and participants to keep illness in perspective; to consider taking dance or other healthy risks to enlarge their experience even while experiencing symptoms.
Over 120 people helped create the work. Read more by clicking the Artist's Statement link above.