Antler Headpiece

Artist Statement

Deer, in many cultures, represent the renewal of life and experiencing a cycle. The antlers on the headpiece I created represent my own cycle of renewal, healing, and growth. The black stone in my piece is hung to rest against the forehead and represents my experiences with having a depressive disorder. Depression can sometimes feel like a dark pit or seed planted in my head that I can’t remove, and it can be very hard not to water that seed with thoughts like “nobody cares” or “you don’t matter.” I placed it between the antlers to show that while I can’t fully remove that seed, it’s just part of the cycle of learning, growing, and healing. Although this piece represents some of the bleaker aspects of my life, it also represents my willingness to try and learn how to handle myself and grow as a person. The deer is a symbol of authority, and I hope that I, like the deer, can continue to work towards having authority over my mental well-being rather than letting it affect how much I enjoy life!