Inspired by an art therapy program for service members dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, the Inside Out Masks Project is a community art project that seeks to show the commonality of personal struggle and ultimately inspire more kindness and understanding.

The prompt asked students to consider whatever deep-seeded issues they are dealing with, project them anonymously onto the mask and write a short paragraph explaining what they drew on the mask. Given free range to use of a variety of shapes, colors and other materials, students could creatively express emotions that they may otherwise disregard. The aspect of anonymity created a safe place within their art to allow them full disclosure, honesty and vulnerability.

The masks presented here were a few samples from a pilot run in the spring of 2016. The Inside Out Masks Project will come to St. Edward’s in the fall as a campus-wide art project to raise awareness for mental health.