CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — William J. Doan, Penn State Laureate for the 2019-20 academic year, will present “The Anxiety Project” from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Penn State Lehigh Valley. This event is free and open to the public.
An annual honor established in 2008, the Penn State Laureate is a faculty member who travels the commonwealth to bring greater visibility to the arts, humanities and the University, as well as to his or her own work. As laureate, Doan, who is a professor of theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture and the artist-in-residence in the College of Nursing, will explore the intersections of art, science and health through interactive experiences — including performances, workshops and discussions — that address issues of living with anxiety and depression. “The Anxiety Project” is a collection of Doan’s original drawings, along with personal stories, research and lessons learned from a life lived with anxiety and depression.
“‘The Anxiety Project’ explores what it’s like to live with anxiety and depression, using a combination of personal experience and research into the complex world of mental health,” said Doan. “The intersections of art, science and health are where I make creative work informed by research and scholarship. For me, it is in these spaces where important questions of aesthetics, ethics and representation lead to sustained collaborations with other artists, scientists, health care professionals and audiences.”