Hannah Garrison

2022 MSAA Art Showcase Entrants

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Hannah Garrison – San Antonio, TX

I am a visual artist and nature lover from San Antonio, Texas. I was diagnosed with MS in the summer of 2017. At the time, I thought that this MS-monster-thing was going to take everything away from me. Not so fast, though – I’m slowly learning that this “new normal” can be built up over time. That’s where the practice of art-making comes into play. Telling people that I make art has become synonymous with telling people that I practice self-care a lot. However, “self-care” isn’t always wine nights in the hot tub and meditation (though it absolutely can be when the time calls for it!)

Much of my personal work has become more childlike in nature, but there are frustrating moments in the art-making process, too. I may have an artistic vision that needs to be achieved, and there are frustrations that are interwoven with that process.

But the key takeaway here is that, at the end of the day, or week, or month, I still have something that I’m proud to have worked through. I’m proud to have had these ups and downs with whatever project it may be. I’m proud to have been able to work through these artistic struggles, and proud to have come to a compromise with the medium. MS can never take that away from me.

Can I do this?

Wonder what this is?

Wildflowers on my mind