Web Bed

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Emma W.

• Artist Statement

  "WebBed" is a digital artwork representing the snare of online life and its negative impact on teens. As a high schooler, I've realized our cell phones can easily become addictions, trapping us in a "web" of distraction and anxiety. During the pandemic and for many months afterward, I would sleep restlessly with my phone glowing on the pillow. That screen contained endless texts and alerts that exacerbated my "Zoom fatigue" and worsened my stress. In "WebBed," my body is entangled by the wires of my devices, disturbing my restful sleep. This represents my sentiment of feeling trapped by social media and the anxiety this causes in countless teenagers.

• Creative Statement

  To me, art represents a vital pathway of self-expression. Whenever I feel frustrated, saddened, or otherwise impacted by the world around me—whether that's through what I see on the news, daily interactions, or my personal life—I turn to art as a medium to heal and move forward.