“My hope lies in the thought that by looking at these creatures, those who struggle to feel safe or at home in their own minds can realize this: You are not a victim of a mental disorder. You are a person with a story, a life, and battle scars who just so happens to have a monster on their mind.”
Meet Nicolet Carson, an intuitive and driven young lady who, currently just 19 years old, had her Mental Disorder Monsters sculpture line featured by the Mental Health Association at its Legacy of Champions Luncheon, held right here in Lake Nona. Carson was born and raised in Oviedo and is wise beyond her years. She spent days researching specific disorders and was able to pick apart each individual disorder and shape it into the monsters in the Mental Disorder Monsters line.
“By creating these pieces, I do not intend to just show healthy-minded people what it is like to live with a disorder but also to help those who do fight to keep a steady mind. These physical representations of mental disorders are meant to help those who are ailed,” stated Carson. “By seeing a physical representation, I hope to help them come to terms with knowing what it is they are facing while also showing that it can be defeated. That no matter how tough or scary it may seem, that there is always hope.” Carson continued, “Hope is a common theme in this line of pieces. With a white space on each piece, I am able to show you where it is that hope lies in each of these monsters.”
Nonahood News set out to discover more about Carson and her Mental Disorder Monsters.
NHN: What drove you to become an artist? When did you realize creating art and sculptures were your passions?
NC: Ever since I was just a little kid, I have been creating art. Of course, the pieces I made as a kid were nothing extraordinary, but they were the start to something far more important in the long run. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I realized I can do more than doodle in my sketchbooks and actually make a difference. After taking an art class that specializes in three-dimensional art, I had started to fall in love with the medium of clay and papier-mâché. After three years of the class, I was able to move up to an Advanced Placement [program] level. It was in this AP class that I had created the Mental Disorder Monsters, and I continue to design them to this day, creating more sculptures that I will bring to the light soon. I have plenty more monsters in store, and I hope to continue bringing attention to the monsters known as mental disorders.
NHN: What inspired you to create the Mental Disorder Monsters sculpture line?
NC: I was inspired to create my monsters due to my interest of the human mind and how it works, as well as the fact that I have many people close to me that suffer from these monsters you see. After knowing people so long and seeing how the mind affects them, I knew something had to be done to get these creatures more well known. People always skip to the excuse of telling victims of mental disorders that it’s “all in their head” without seeming to realize that being “all in their head” is the issue. With the mind being the most complex organ in the human body, it isn’t as simple as putting a Band-Aid over it and calling it a day. It is something that must be worked with, and people need to learn this and understand it.
NHN: How long have you been sculpting and creating art?
NC: I have been sculpting since the age of 14, but I had made minor clay projects since I was five. It had only become serious once I had started high school.
NHN: How often do you find yourself creating art?
NC: I do not sculpt all that often, but I do draw, paint and sketch at least once a day. I also create jewelry pieces in some of my free time.
NHN: Is art something you plan on studying in further education or is it just a hobby for you? What do you want to do as a career?
NC: I am planning on taking my art further. I hope to one day get into the field of art therapy so I can show others the healing properties of art and get them to open up while creating something beautiful and meaningful. If I am unable to reach this goal, I still plan to stay with art. With sculptures and paintings being a large part of my life, I intend to move higher up in this field and sell my art while continuing to spread the messages I find important for others to know, such as the importance of mental health and getting help.
NHN: Which of your artwork/sculptures would you consider to be your favorites? (Pick a top three.)
NC: It is always difficult to pick which of my sculptures is considered my favorite, though I feel as though I can pick a top three somewhat easier than one single piece. I believe that my top three sculptures would be that of PTSD, a bull-like beast with a lion’s mane and four pure white eyes, Selective Mutism, a small mouse creature with bare skin and fused lips, and last but not least, Schizophrenia. I would discuss him further, but he is currently being worked on, and I intend on keeping this creature’s design a bit of a mystery until the sculpture’s release.
(Carson doesn’t have an expected release date for Schizophrenia as of yet, but she is about halfway done with the sculpture at the time of this interview.)
NHN: Which of your projects were the most time-consuming/challenging and why?
NC: My most time-consuming of my projects would have to be Paranoia. Paranoia is a cat-like creature whose body has been reduced to that of a spring. His body defies gravity as it stays in this curled shape and has been broken multiple times in the process of making him. Luckily, he has been modified to be a bit sturdier than he was in the past, and we have learned how to transport him properly without the possibility of his back shattering.
NHN: What are some of your dream projects?
NC: I dream of continuing my line of mental disorder monsters, as well as branching out to more lessons I hope to teach others. I have plenty of ideas and designs that I plan on bringing to the light once the time is right.
NHN: What serves as your inspiration on a day-to-day basis?
NC: My inspiration comes from those who surround us on a day-to-day basis. People are my inspiration, not just the ones we see on TV or hear on the radio, but the ones we pass as we walk down the street, the ones we see as we shop in the mall, those who have a voice but aren’t always heard.
NHN: Which artists would you say you share a vision with?
NC: I did not go into this field trying to share a vision with other artists, but there are many artists who create art to show their views and to bring light to the topics that they find important. It is the greatest power that artists hold; once you are known or have a following of sorts, you have the chance to make a difference for the best. Not everyone takes this chance, but I intend on doing so.
NHN: What style/form of art is your favorite to create?
NC: Although I am not the best at this yet, I am a fan of creating sculptures and pieces with the intent of looking both realistic yet grotesque. It is fun to create something that looks as if it can fit within this world while also bending the norms of reality.
NHN: Future goals/plans?
NC: My goals are simply to help others and leave an impact on those who knew me. I wish to bring forth conversations that people are too worried to touch upon in a healthy and intriguing way so people do not need to feel like topics such as mental health need to stay silent. Those who suffer from the monsters in their own mind need to know that it is perfectly fine to find help. It is not a sign of weakness but that of strength for being able to go to someone and help yourself and others.
Those interested can connect with Carson on Instagram @names_shouldnt_matter.
“You are more than your disorder and with time and hard work, one day you can make your mental disorder a victim of you. Stay strong and believe in yourself, do not be afraid of asking for help. These creatures are scary to fight, but you are never alone.”
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We are looking for interesting artists who live in the Nonahood to be featured. If you or someone you know should be nominated to be a Nonahood News Featured Artist, send your nomination to nonahood.to/artist.
