ODP Art Challenge: How Prevention Can Create Better Health for Everyone

1^st Place Teen

Artist: Aurora Kroenke (California)

Caption: The piece, “Community is Health,” depicts a community potluck, which shows the importance of a wholesome diet, social interaction, and the celebration of culture, for health and quality of life.

2^nd Place Teen

Artist: Sophia Grossman (Washington, D.C.)

Caption: My painting relies on the theme of heroism to convey the importance of preventative health care. It teaches that we can all be heroes by getting vaccinated, which protects both ourselves and vulnerable people in our community. The boy is emphasizing that, despite his age, he is a hero by getting vaccinated. The boy’s band-aid has a Batman symbol—a superhero the boy seeks to emulate. Also, the boy is posing like Rosie the Riveter, a symbol of encouraging people to take action and be heroes.

3^rd Place Teen

Artist: Carina Leong (Oregon)

Caption: Sometimes the support of a friend, family member, or significant other can be the difference between falling into a depressive spiral, or opening up and gaining the courage to seek help from people that care about you, finding someone that can light up and bring enjoyment back into your life.

1st Place Young Adult

Artist: Xinyi Christine Zhang (New Jersey)

Caption: Heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S., disproportionately affects African Americans and people with disabilities, among other groups. In my piece, one's initial health, shown as the red bars, reflects genetic, environmental, and social heart disease risk factors. The heart's vitality is "charged up" by the yellow fluid through preventative measures such as regular check-ups, exercise, nutritious diets, and avoiding smoking–unifying diverse individuals to improve their health as much as possible.

2nd Place Young Adult

Artist: Claire Robinette (Tennessee)

Caption: The scene depicts a mother taking her child to have a check-up at the pediatrician. Regular doctor visits are a form of prevention that can create a healthy lifesyle and prevent serious illnesses. The scene also depicts the mother reading a book about "germs" to her child. Health education, especially at a young age, is also a form of prevention. These healthy habits exhibited by the mother can be passed down to her child and even to her grandchildren and further, perpetuating healthy habits.

[Translation: The poster on the far left that says “Habla Español? Tenemos un traductor” is translated, “Do you speak Spanish? We have a translator.” The poster on the left that says, “vacunarse hoy!” in green letters is translated as “Get vaccinated today!”]

3^rd Place Young Adult

Artist: Remi Adeniji (New York)

Caption: This comic explores loneliness amid academic pressures by a New York City (NYC) student. NYC.gov reports half of New Yorkers feel lonely. Drawing on NYC government and University of Reading, the comic shows how hobbies and social support combat loneliness and depression, symbolized by the microphone/singing and friendship. These avenues of support may be via local support groups, skill development, or hobbies which can enhance the brain's reward system, create passions, and lead to camaraderie.