Brain injury survivors come together and share stories through art

March is brain injuries awareness month. On Saturday, dozens of brain injury survivors gathered to use art as a way of therapy.

Blank clay masks served as canvasses for the survivors at the Brain Injury Alliance in Roseville.

"I was the lucky survivor or a very big domestic violence incident." Erin Caroline said.

"I'm actually lucky to have gotten the only broken mask which really shows how I deeply feel but how broken my life has become."  Erin Caroline said.

Each mask has a different story.

"If you look close enough these are all word or images that are drawn on this mask, it is just beautiful." One survivor said.

Another mask is called "barred from society."

"So this is you're sort of behind bars and just being held prisoner by brain injury." One survivor said.

Kris Nozal was broadsided at an intersection.

"Well I have a truck on here because it was a truck that hit my tiny little car.” Kris Nozal said. 

One side of her mask shows the depression and fatigue.

"And then on the other side I have the words of faith and hope and life. Because, I'm still alive, which is a blessing."

"It's like a candy. We have the same wrapper but just not the same inside anymore." 

In honor of brain injury awareness month in March, all of the masks will be on display Saturday, March 12 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center.