Ritalin Tapestries
Description: Despite millions of people taking Ritalin, very few are aware that the drug had a mascot at one point. Meet Ritalin Man, an anthropomorphic potato looking fellow dreamed up in 1975 by the Ciba-Geigy Corporation to help market and promote their wonder drug, Ritalin. He appeared in doctor's offices and pharmacy's as a series of 7" plastic figurines in various incarnations ranging from gleeful and dancing, to depressed and confused. The idea was to help hyperactive and depressed young children relate to him more easily. With a hollow head and dilated pupils, Ritalin Man seems to be in a good place here, and a reminder of the good things that drugs can do for people.