In Poor Taste

September 30-October 3, 2023

Jo Farb Hernandez Gallery

San Jose State University

On October 1, 2020 I was placed on a hold for 72 hours, after 24 hours in the ER I was transferred to the Behavioral health center. My hold would be extended and I ended up leaving on October 6. My disconnect ran deeper than having my phone taken with all my personal belongings. I needed to recover the fundamentals, the proper procedure of existing.

There was routine and instruction to get from one hour to the next. There were bland meals and socialization. The meals and preplanned conversation helped to not overwhelm my burnt out tongue. But even through burnt taste buds the lingering tang of trying to renounce the reign on my mental health fails to fade. In this current year I still have yet to douse the shame, to speak with a tongue not numb. My mental health and mental illness gives me hesitation still.