EP003 → Charlie Fitz On Using Art to Reclaim the Medical Narrative
In this episode, we talk to Charlie Fitz. Charlie is a UK-based sick and disabled artist, arts practitioner, writer, co-director of the remote artist studio TRIAD³ c.i.c and medical humanities postgraduate at Birkbeck, where she is a recipient of the Wellcome Trust studentship.
Since becoming sick, Fitz has turned to her art practice as a meditative process, a form of disability activism, and as a means to understand and reclaim her experiences of illness and trauma.
In today’s episode, we talk about Charlie’s experience with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, her time in the hospital, and having to outsource care and fundraise for surgery. We also discuss mental health, interdependence, collective care and her art practice.
Content warning: We talk about death and suicide in this episode. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal ideation or needs support, please reach out. Help is here for you.
Charlie's Instagram
Charlie's Website
Resources:
UK: Samaritans: Call: 116 123 free
National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 0800 689 5652
USA: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is: 988