Parkinson’s: The Unraveling of a Life

Artist’s statement

There are many times in our lives when we lose our deep connection to the thing that brings comfort, security, and meaning to our lives. This may mean witnessing your life partner’s gradual loss of their ability and your shared emotional connection. For me, it was about losing a loved one to Parkinson’s which is a neurodegenerative disease where central nervous system cells fail or die. 

In this exhibition personal objects are combined to represent the disappearance and loss of a life partner. These artworks use a range of mediums to explore the experience of my husband’s deterioration. In our life together, we created art, we made memories, we integrated my Catholicism and his Buddhism, and we lost all of this to a devastating disease. This is not a linear story, but this series tells of trying to connect when true connection is impossible because one half of the whole is physically present but emotionally absent.

The series includes the deconstruction and reconstruction of pieces of our clothing, handmade paper from both of our artworks, and cast ephemeral buddhas made from his buddha collection with embedded cotton fibers. Ultimately, only these objects and my memories remain.

Many people are affected by diseases each year that unravel their lives and interrupt their connection with others. Everyone manages differently. I believe art can help where words fall short, supporting us all as we process loss and move forward.

Lynn Manos
2026

Thank you to the following artists and collaborators who helped me realize this vision:

Carrie Cronan, Kendra Frorup, Jack King, Claudia Lee, Chase Parker, Craig Subler, Selena Roman, and Carl Ulaszek.