Denver artist Courtney Cotton is using her paper airplanes series of conceptual paintings to bring awareness to mental wellness/fitness. Using the airplane as metaphor for perspective & perception that evolved as a way for her to heal herself and possibly others whose lives have been touched by suicide. You can filter any situation through your lens of beliefs. In other words, reality depends on your perceptions and the filter you choose affects the world you see. Choosing a positive filter means living a life filled with opportunity. Choosing a negative filter means a life of limitations. How your perceptions lead you to act or not act in a given situation is something you control. Transformation and possibility are apparent as the paper plane manifested from the folding of a sheet of paper. The airplane is a metaphor for oneself and emotional intelligence, being above a situation, seeing it in a different way or with a new perspective may change your perception. “As I journey or fly through life, I enjoy the ease in which I can change my reactions to responses using my breath and new perspectives. Many times, when I am in flow, life is an easy graceful flight and other times resistance and fear manifest turbulence and delays on my flight through life. Good thing the paper airplane is resilient and I have a lot a paper in the case of a crash.” On the color palette; the dark blue or Payne’s Grey, represents a cool and calming color that shows creativity and intelligence. It is a color that symbolizes loyalty, strength, wisdom and trust. Gold represents light, both inner light or self and outer light - universal. The white represents peace and being present. All the variations these colors make represent contrast and the balancing act of our thoughts, feelings and emotions. Cotton also encourages the viewer to attach their own meaning to the paper plane. “Fly high - it’s what you were meant to do! “ - Love Courtney Cotton is currently using this series as a vehicle to spread awareness about social & emotional learning as well as conscious awareness because good mental health/fitness is imperative to develop coping skills and resilience. She views this series as a vehicle that can help our youth articulate and regulate emotions.