It is not often that young people are given the chance, much less encouraged, to reflect kindly or positively on their bodies.  The Center for Eating Disorders’ Love Your Tree poster campaign creates this opportunity by inviting all of Maryland’s middle school, high school, and college students to create a poster that celebrates their body and promotes a positive dialogue about the diversity of beauty.The Love Your Tree poster campaign was developed three years ago by The Center’s senior art therapist, Julia Andersen.  She adapted the concept from a play written by Eve Ensler in which she travels the world and talks with different people about how we view our bodies.  One of those people is Leah, a Masai woman in Africa who is puzzled by Ensler’s negative attitude toward her own body.  In the play, Leah says:

“Eve, look at that tree? Do you see that tree? Now, look at that tree (pointing to another one). Do you like that tree? Do you hate that tree ’cause it doesn’t look like that tree? Do you say that tree isn’t pretty cause it doesn’t look like that tree? We’re all trees. You’re a tree. I’m a tree. You’ve got to love your body, Eve. You’ve got to love your tree.” (excerpt from The Good Body, 2004 by Eve Ensler).

The ‘Call for Posters’ encourages participants to respond to the phrase “Like a tree, my body is…” by creating a 2-dimensional design that celebrates their body and conveys a positive message about body image.  Please be sure to submit a completed Registration Form and artist statement when you submit your poster design.

The 3^rd annual Love Your Tree poster campaign began in September and will run through December which means students have less than one month to submit their posters!  All posters must be received by December 12^th, 2008.   Maryland teachers are also invited to get involved by working with their classes and students to submit posters.  Teachers can request a free workshop to help educate students about body image and engage them in the creation of Love Your Tree posters.  All participating students and teachers will be invited to attend the Love Your Tree reception and Poster Exhibit in February 2009.  Several artists from each age group will be recognized with awards totaling $1200. One poster will be chosen for reproduction and used by the Center for Eating Disorders’ to promote positive body image throughout the year.

Please call Kate Clemmer at (410) 427-3386 for more information about submitting a poster or to request a Love Your Tree workshop for your school or organization. Details are also available on our Events page at http://www.eatingdisorder.org/events.php