NIMH Wonderland
(a division of the National Institute for Mental Health)
Rat Trap

Each year the Rat City Arts Festival pays local artists to beautify Rat Traps commonly seen across Allston.

This year I was one of those artist chosen.

This project was such a joy to create. It allowed me to play and imagine a world where humans are cared for by rats in an environment that doesn't just push medicine and therapy down our throats, but a world that provides comfort, safety, and a place where we can spend time resting and reflecting on our inner selves.

My trap is a mash-up of the Secret Rats of NIHM, which I am currently reading with my 7-year-old son, and Alice & Wonderland, a story that blurs the line between my reality and imagination.

I leave you with these wise words since I am still in disbelief that I got to work on such a radical project, such as beautifying a rat trap:

"Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English).”