The American Pain Foundation & The HealthCentral Network

The 2008 APF Pain and Creativity Exhibit

Living with pain or caring for someone affected by pain always stirs strong emotions. Has pain ever inspired you to create art? Have you used art to work through your pain?

The American Pain Foundation, in collaboration with The HealthCentral Network, is inviting people who have pain or are affected by pain to share their art—painting, sculpture, video, words, pictures—anything!

Selected artists and their pain stories will be featured in the American Pain Foundation and HealthCentral Web sites, print publications, and in videos to raise awareness of the pain experience and the impact it has on the individual, family and society.

Looking for inspiration? Check out the latest submissions to this year's exhibit, or take a look at last year's Pain and Creativity Exhibit.

1) Words and Images

Contribute poetry, prose, or a digital picture of your artwork and join others in an online show of how pain can affect your life. To submit your work, simply create a SharePost and add your writing, or include a photo or graphic by clicking "Insert Image" in the toolbar. Remember to include a paragraph about yourself, the artwork you're displaying, and how it represents your pain experience.

2) Video

Spread the word about how pain affects your life or the life of someone you love by creating and uploading a Pain Video. Videos provide a great way to share with others, provide inspiration and tell your story about the impact pain has on your life.

3) Quilt Squares

Create and submit an actual quilt square that represents your journey with pain, or the journey of a loved on. Quilts are a literal and figurative symbol of comfort and the joining of patchwork is a symbol of unity and community. Find out how you can send your quilt square to the American Pain Foundation, and have it joined with the quilt squares of other pain sufferers.