Items
Tag is exactly
creativity
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2020-03-27Walking Through Covid-19
During the height of the pandemic and quarantine, my family and I spent hours a day walking. We would walk through our neighborhood, the Metroparks, and we would find new trails and paths. One day they made an announcement that the country would be in quarantine for another month. my family and I were concerned and didn’t know what to expect. We were thinking how much longer can this be, what is our world coming to, and will everyone stay safe. we were unsure of our future. we decided to take a walk to clear our minds. During the walk, we came up to sidewalk chalk that said be positive with handprints, hearts, and other creative designs. It was a young girl who was designing these patterns and quotes and it made us realize that we need to stay positive during these tough times. It was a day we all remember during quarantine. -
2021-10-13HIST30060: My first pandemic quilt
Last year (2020) I was living at home with my parents. My mum noticed how the pandemic was affecting me mentally and suggested that I make a quilt as a therapeutic tool. It was my first ever quilt, and it took several months. I enjoyed making it so much that I've kept on making quilts ever since. This quilt, therefore, reminds me of the pandemic's silver linings; it forced me to take up a hobby, one that slows me down. This photo is of the quilt on my bed now in Melbourne (2021). -
2021-04-13HIST30060: Pandemic cookbook
I bought this cookbook earlier this year from a local Melbourne lady. During the 2020 lockdowns, she decided to write a cookbook celebrating cooking and sharing food with friends during eased restrictions. Whenever I cook from this cookbook, I am reminded of how the pandemic was also an opportunity for many people to pursue new hobbies and interests, often creative ones, that they previously wouldn't have. -
2020-09-27Views From Quarantine
On September 3, 2020, I was notified by a friend that I had come in close contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19. I then spent the next 14 days in quarantine, not once leaving my room. Since I live and work in the Taylor Place dorms, I immediately notified the community directors and was placed in a quarantine dorm where I could be separated from my roommate. Despite testing negative for COVID-19 and not having any symptoms, I still needed to quarantine for 14 days as a precaution according to ASU Health Services. Being confined by empty white walls and only being able to see slivers of the sky made the loneliness even more apparent. Although my camera was the first thing I packed, it took me until the ninth day to find the motivation to pick it up. I began photographing the things I could see from my dorm or my “Views from Quarantine.” Using a long lens, I had residents pose in their windows in ways that expressed their personalities. With every photo, I felt less and less alone. I began to realize how important it is for people to see what it meant to quarantine in the dorms. So I also began photographing my meals and room. At the end of it, I put together a photo story, “Views from Quarantine,” that was published in The State Press. It is probably one of my proudest accomplishments so far. -
2020-09-24The Mask
I wrote this poem during my senior year shortly after Providence College began its campus lockdown in September of 2020 in response to a major spike in COVID-19 cases. Unable to leave my apartment on campus for days at a time except to go for a walk by myself around campus, I felt the weight of the emotional impacts of the pandemic. I wrote the poem from a place of hurt and concern that my fellow students could not abide by guidelines to keep the campus community and the surrounding community safe. Masks were simultaneously hiding our fears while also being a constant reminder of them. I published this poem in the Portfolio section of The Cowl, Providence College's student-run newspaper. It appeared in the October 1, 2020 issue. -
2021-08-30my experience with mental health in quarantine
the drawing is a representation of how my mental state has deteriorated and I lost the confidence, ability to socialize well, and my worsening depression. -
2021-05-01"Hope Love Heal"
Art can create change. The 2020 pandemic year and all its struggles informed my mail art project. My hope was that this small art project would help others in a big way through creativity and connection to the community. My art piece titled "Hope Love Heal" is a direct response to the collective struggle. I am honored to be a part of the "We Rise" Campaign to help shed light on mental illness, mental awareness and mental well being. I hope my mail art project will touch others and let others know that they are not alone. And to remember...with a little "hope" and "love" we can "heal". -
2021-01-29Coronaland
With Carnival parades cancelled, somebody had the bright idea to start the Krewe of House Floats to (a) make up for it and (b) to possibly offer work to unemployed float artisans. The results have gone beyond everyone's wildest imagination with 5,000+ people signing up in New Orleans, surrounding parishes, and around the world. This is a detail of an installation that shows how many people are feeling these days, “Cuckoo from COVID” -
2021-01-12Mariya Takeuchi
With the re-release of Plastic Love onto Spotify, I have been listening to it on repeat for hours on end to help through the melancholic times of the monotony known as these wretched times. This art resonated with me, so thus I submit it along with other art that I feel encapsulates the soul of creative thinkers during this time. -
2020-04-10Finding Creativity in the Times of Covid-19
This is an inspirational video produced by the company Apple. This short one-and-a-half-minute long video consists of various photos and videos filmed by people all over the world durig the pandemic. There are great displays of creativity and different forms of art in this video. For instance, the art of playing the violin, learning to dance ballet, as well as the craft of making of old motion pictures are all displayed in the source. I chose to display this object because reflects the needs and considerations of an ethical archival collection. This source assures that an abundance of different perspectives from people of many backgrounds are represented respectively. I also feel as though this archive does attempt to fill an archival silence and amplify the voices of marginalized groups by allowing for such a diverse array of people to be included in this video featurette. -
2020-03-13The Creation of Memories
March 13, the covid-19 virus struck my highschool. We were sent home early and spring break was prolonged. Everyone assumed this would last a week maybe a month, but I knew that the devastation would last a long while more. Everyday during my lockdown, I focused on myself, more than I ever had before. I worked out every day, I baked, I did my school work, I was on a schedule. Over the four weeks I barely went out of my apartment, I tried my best to keep my head up high and try not to worry about the essential and front line workers. I buried myself into Tik Tok, which is what my story is going to be about. Through lock-down I became quite the dancer. I managed to learn most of the Tik-Tok dances and become fascinated with the Tik Tok algorithm. Although this sounds like a bit of a problem, I was happy, I spent hours a day on my phone scrolling. A screenager, I know. Well, in the midst of my scrolling I would come to romanticize my life post covid, how I will be making new friends and exploring new places. I made one Tik Tok a day, no kidding. I created an archive of the lockdown in my drafts. I devoted a lot of my day to Tik Tok, I kept up with the drama and followed all of the baking trends. However, my Tik Tok debut never occurred, sadly. But, I did come to find out new things about myself. I know, most people find social media toxic in some sort of way, as I do now, but during lockdown I felt it was a sort of outlet. I expressed myself and laughed, and saw a little happiness while being inside. I realized that all of my saved videos on Tik Tok would be an archive for my children, they would look at the videos and the umpteenth amount of selfies I took and laugh. Of course, the pandemic is no funny situation at all, but when my children learn about it and question how covid was for me I can show them. The photograph is not as important as my realization of how the Tik Tok changed the pandemic. It might have altered it in a bad way at times because people were glued to their screens. But it is okay for people to spend time on it, to make them laugh and to make them maybe become more creative. -
2020-10-31Trick-or-Treating During the COVID-19 Pandemic
For this year's Halloween, my mother wanted to hand out candy in a safe, fun way for the trick or treaters to enjoy. She found a way to maintain the appropriate 6-foot distance by utilizing a long PVC pipe as a chute to send the candy shooting down to the trick-or-treaters below on our front porch steps. This picture exemplifies the measures people have done to maintain normality amidst this devastating crisis and I believe it captures the common effort to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 while still engaging in fun activities. -
2020-10-13
Finding Fun in the Little
Nannying has been very different since the outbreak. I have had to use my creativity in different ways that don't involve being around people and working with what the family has. I wear my mask around the kids and the parents work from home and wear a mask while I'm there. Me and the kids created an obstacle course on their patio (hence the photo). I originally wanted to create this to make the time go by faster, however, it was a lot of fun for everyone. We created rules on how to jump/dance on each color. -
2020-06-25Seniors Embrace the Arts During Quarantine
These images are so visually striking and uplifting. A lot of diversity is represented in the group as well. The seniors used their creativity and their imagination to take part in the challenge. These photos were taken at the Amenida Seniors Community in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Perhaps other museums can follow suit and issue “museum challenges” to ease the stress of Covid-19. -
2020-10-31
Dorm list upgrade: Masks are the new essential item to bring to college
My dorm list for my first year of St. Mary’s consisted of the usual: bed sheets, towels, and-masks? The new normal of college is needing as many masks as you can get. The picture attached are 50 masks I had to buy, and I couldn’t even buy them at a store since they were sold out. Masks becoming the new college essential is a complete change and was unheard of a year ago. What's more interesting is masks becoming a new way to express yourself. While some students like myself choose disposable masks we have others who are showing off their school pride with their St. Mary's masks as well as masks that showcase their interests and hobbies. -
2020-10-29A Collection of Quarantine Paintings
I am posting this photo because it showcases how I have spent a lot of my time during the pandemic. This photo displays every painting I have created since the beginning of quarantine. Some of the works shown in the picture are still works in progress and others are completed. Before Covid prevailed and we were sent home in the spring, I had lost interest in painting and had not painted in months. The lockdown that Covid brought on allowed me to slow down and rekindle the love and creativity I had for painting. In this photo, there are 14 paintings, however, I have made more and gave them to friends as gifts. I mainly work with acrylic paint on canvas because I like vibrant color and solid lines, although, I would like to start experimenting with oil paints soon. Covid-19 brought on many obstacles to a lot of people but I am grateful that I was allowed to reconnect with painting -
2020-06-16Time Alone While Fighting Together
There's a lot wrong with the world and it seems that with everyday that goes by, there is a new challenge that we are faced with. This pandemic has been quite the paradox for me. Before the pandemic, I always wished I had more time to myself to do more creative things. As an artist, i am always sketching and designing but between work and school, I have no time to to bring my sketches and designs to life. When Covid-19 became a threat and quarantine was implemented, it put everything in my life on hold. Society in general was turned upside down. From, coronavirus deaths, to George Floyd, to riots and protests, everyday presented itself unrest and sorrow. During these chaotic times, I decided to capitalize on the time I had, therefore I referred to my sketches and designs, and began creating as much as I could. No matter what i created, i found that I would be immersed in the creative process and would in fact be meditating without realizing it. When i would create, everything going on would be temporarily non-existent. The circumstances of the time I had suddenly acquired was not ideal but I was nonetheless thankful because in some ways, i learned about myself. I created many things during quarantine but due to the virus, I like many other people made masks. Masks have became a household essential seemingly overnight and the demand for them were through the roof. I never made a mask before but i decided try. It took a while to get the exact look and aesthetic i wanted to incorporate in the design but i found way through looking at numerous YouTube videos. I got to work and before i knew it, i created 20+ masks and began to sell them. From friends to strangers, people wanted a mask from me and i was more than happy to make them because i knew i was making something that not only looks good but also will protect people and last a long time. -
2020-03-19Fighting Creative Blocks During Quarentine
Of course the pandemic hit everyone's motivation and zest for daily life pretty hard, but as an artist whose social circles are mainly comprised of other artists, I noticed an especially hard hit to the creative output of my peers. I've heard before that suffering and despair is supposed to bring out the best artists have to offer, but in reality the inverse is often true- Van Gogh painted the Starry Night while he was getting specialized care in a mental health facility, after all. It's hard to find your spark when it feels like the world is caving in on all sides, but I was determined to find a way to keep myself from falling into a months long creative drought I knew I'd find myself in if I didn't do something about it. I didn't have the energy or desire to touch full sized pieces, but I reasoned with myself that I could stand to go smaller scale to save on both energy and time without sacrificing the feeling of accomplishment that comes with a finished piece, and so the day before every non-essential business in town shut down, I ran to my local Michael's and picked up the cheapest acrylic paints I could find and 3 packs of six 2 inch square canvases. I tried to think of a subject that could easily be captured on such a small surface, but was also sure to spark joy in myself and perhaps others if i chose to share them, and landed on the topic of pets, since they were easily one of the biggest comforts for myself and everyone else I knew during our prolonged stints sitting at home. It was a good move, I think- looking at an an image of an animal for long periods of time never hurts your mood, and sharing photos of the finished paintings with my friends who own the animals pictured brought a boost of serotonin to both parties involved. More than one person suggested I start an etsy page and sell them, but I think I'm content to just let them be a quarantine hobby and act of kindness during a deeply depressing time. -
2020-08-22
The meadow people: lessons from homeschooling day 1
Do I have what it takes to homeschool my kid? I never thought I would consider homeschooling, though I find myself in this unusual position. I am working from home, teaching online, and the current online curriculum isn’t working for my daughter. So after talking to one of the ASU JOTPY interns (Chris Twing) who also homeschools her kid I had the chance to look at 3 different homeschool programs she sent me. In the end, I liked the curriculum from Blossom and Root. It seems to encourage creativity and individual expression, and I love that. The math will require a supplemental program, but if she wants to go back to the bilingual school she’ll have to pass a math exam in Spanish anyway. So, either way I’ve got to come up with a Spanish math plan. This picture shows one of the activities from the literature lesson. We read two stories from The Meadow People, the “Selfish Caterpillar,” and the “Lazy Snail.” She had to make characters out of clay and retell the stories in her own words. It was honestly a lot of fun, and much better engagement. I love working, but this is helping me see a way to support by child and connect with her through education. -
2020-08-23Creativity In Solitude
Being in quarantine meant two things for me. First, my summer job as a camp counselor was shut down. Second, I was legally required to stay home. In short, I have way too much time on my hands. I have always struggled to find motivation, even for my hobbies or passions. But having so much time to spend helped me push myself to delve deeper into art, which I have been doing since I was a kid. My mental health improved with each origami or drawing, because not only did I feel productive and accomplished, but I also was finally bringing myself to pursue my hobby. Furthermore, with a close family friend of mine being treated in a hospital out of state, I have been able to write her letters accompanied by a small drawing or paper animal. Each week I make a new origami and drawing/painting, and each week she gets to open up a new set of trinkets to hang on her wall. I feel like I am doing right by me, but by her also. The mental health of the general public has taken a nosedive since the Pandemic began, so it helps me to know I am doing something useful to improve myself and others. -
2020-08-10Paste up street art, Ballarat
The pandemic has inspired a lot of creativity including street art. This example on a mail distribution box was spotted while walking in the local neighbourhood (walking being another popular pandemic past time). The design has a virus symbol together with a rat. ("The rat" is a colloquial term for Ballarat). -
03/23/2020Anne McKim Oral History, 2020/03/23
In response to COVID-19, the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science launched the mini-series, "Cultural Insights: Interviews in the Creative Sector," to highlight colleagues and professionals working in the same or similar field of museum professionals. -
2020-07-25Orange County Fair at Home!
It is a huge summer tradition in our family to go to the Orange County Fair. Even when we go somewhat ironically, we always have a great time. When the fair was cancelled this year, my mom and I decided we would run the fair for my kids at our house. We went all in. We made a “photo booth” and a theme, to emulate the somewhat cheesy themes the fair has every year. My daughter made rides and games, with tickets for purchase. There was an art exhibit, and a “carnival of products” where my daughter “sold” suncatchers she and her brother made. We awarded items in our garden with fair ribbons. And, most importantly, we home made every fair food you can imagine - Orange Julius, soft pretzels, sausages, grilled corn, corn dogs, funnel cake and more. Orange County Fair 2020, COVID, Quarantined, and Closed actually turned out to be a pretty amazing day! -
2020-07-08Social Distancing BFFs
My 7-year-old daughter and one of her best friends since the toddler room were signed up for their first year of softball and first team sport together. Then the Stay at Home order happened. The organizers kept asking us to hang on and wait and see if we could play this year. In June, they got the go ahead from the state for practices. I was on the fence, but they had good safety protocols in place and my daughter is high energy and very athletic, so I decided she could go ahead and play. So did her friend’s family. The girls have been good about wearing masks and kind of good at keeping 6 feet apart through the 2 weeks of practices. This week, which would have been the end of their regular season, they had their first game. At the end as we were leaving, they came up with this way to be together and connected while being safe and apart. -
2020-07-03Coronaland
WE ❤️ ESSENTIAL WORKERS made out of paper and plastic cups in the fence surrounding Haynes Academy -
2020-04-15Art Walk in San Francisco's Hayes Valley, Bear Making Mask
Stores across San Francisco closed their doors during the city's shelter-in-place orders that begin mid-March. Many stores boarded up their windows in response to shelter-in-place orders and because of looting that took place in across Bay Area cities. Artists responded by creating beautiful murals across many Bay Area cities. This piece of art features a bear sitting in front of what appear to be white birch trees, making a mask at a Singer style sewing machine. -
2020-06-23T17:27COVID-19: end date unknown A Chronicle in collages
I have created collages for several years now, but living in lockdown as of March 17, 2020 gave this creative outlet a whole new importance in my life. It started as a bit of lark, when a new colleague and I shared with each other that we both had creative outlets. I shared my first COVID-19 collage with her, she shared the painting she had made, and that simple act gave me the impetus to continue using this creative outlet as a way of thinking about my experience of life in lockdown. I learned of your digital archive via an interview on CBC radio’s The Current, and I wrote about it (and similar “witnessing” projects) on my blog (link to blog is live in the attached pdf). I have ten pieces in this “end-date unknown” series; I produced none in May due to a family health crisis, since happily resolved. I returned to it in June, producing what is at the moment the last, though likely not the final, entry. Living in lockdown, with hope, Amanda Le Rougetel Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada June 23, 2020 -
2020-05-06Humans of Covid-19 AU: Montana
“People are often saying that it sounds so nice and relaxing working from home, but I've been finding the opposite. It’s really exhausting, more so than a day at the office. I think it's because you’re fighting so many distractions, both consciously and unconsciously, all day. For me, art is often mental health focused. The reason that I do the art is for my personal mental health, it's a really good outlet for me to feel calm and understand my feelings and thoughts. But I also make the art to share it with others and build a community of people that can support each other and feel reassured by relating to others’ feelings. I love that people are turning to art as an outlet during this time. I'm a big believer that creativity can help people to reach a state of mindfulness and act as a preventative measure to mental health issues. I’ve noticed that people are being so generous and compassionate. As I go for walks, I notice that people have got baskets out on the nature-strip, offering their things, and sending letters to each other. It’s really wholesome. COVID19 has made me realize that there are so many things we do everyday that contribute to the decay of earth, but are completely unnecessary.” Instagram post on Montana, illustrator, and her experience during the pandemic, which was created by a psychology student living in Melbourne who was interested to hear about how COVID-19 was impacting on different peoples’ lives. -
2020-04-30Humans of Covid-19 AU: Hugo Ling
“It’s strange having all this time to myself at home. I'm not necessarily someone who spends a lot of time at home alone doing my own thing in normal circumstances. The first few weeks were very funny to sit back and think ‘What are my interests? What am I into?’ I’ve been trying to do things that keep my brain active, like Boggle, practising my French, and learning some Spanish. Coming back a few months ago from exchange in France has given me some perspective on COVID19. I’ve got a few friends over there who are completely locked in their apartment. Here, we’re lucky to still have the freedom to walk and bike ride at our leisure. I’ve been doing both of them a lot. Earlier in the pandemic, everyone was talking about ‘social distancing’. My mum pointed out that the better term is ‘physical distancing’. You don't want to be socially distant, you want to be socially connected, with a distance - something that me and my friends have maintained. I’ve been feeding off the creativity of some of my friends: weekly Zoom live music; a home-made magazine; a friend is making Vino Quarantino. So there are a few things that have been happening amongst my close circle that keep us all talking, interested and connected. We’ll definitely carry the habit of diligent handwashing into the future, and a greater consideration for general hygiene. The pandemic has definitely sparked that in my house. I get bouts of cabin fever from time to time, but am trying to keep busy and active.” Instagram post on Hugo Ling, student, and his experience during the pandemic, which was created by a psychology student living in Melbourne who was interested to hear about how COVID-19 was impacting on different peoples’ lives. -
2020-05-18Pandemic Boredom Killer: Squirrels star in Ontario couple's elaborate backyard photo shoots
"As people across Canada find creative ways to pass the extra hours at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an Ontario couple has found a new hobby that has both humans and critters going nuts. "Daryl Granger and his wife Karen are both photographers who own and operate RoseLe Studio in Simcoe, Ont. "'We spend a lot of time in the backyard and we noticed, "gosh there's a lot of squirrels" so we thought "why not set up a photo shoot,"' Granger told CBC News on Monday." -
2020-05-222020 Poetry Book
This object tells the story of the pandemic through three chronological sections. I want all my readers to be instilled with a sense of hope after finishing my book, so that is why I wrote about the future. The future may seem bleak during times like this, but having hope and optimism will continue to help move everybody forward in their lives, knowing this will eventually come to an end. -
2020-05-09Greenville SC street artist BLINDERS Coronavirus awareness posters
A selection of images from around the Greenville SC area all by the street artist BLINDERS. They address Coronavirus awareness, public safety, masks wearing, social distancing and government distrust. All posters are signed BLINDERS 5/20 YOTP (Year Of The Plague) -
2020-05-10Greenville SC street artist BLINDERS Coronavirus awareness posters
A selection of images from around the Greenville SC area all by the street artist BLINDERS. They address Coronavirus awareness, public safety, masks wearing, social distancing and government distrust. All posters are signed BLINDERS 5/20 YOTP (Year Of The Plague) -
2020-05-10Mother’s Day 2020, in a Covid-19 Pandemic
My daughter wrote this note expressing the fears around the virus, why she didn’t send flowers, and even a note is scary now, fear of contagion. My grandsons made the card. -
2020-03-19
BLuey Strings
A Playlist Created During Quarantine CSU -
04/24/2020Michele and lonely pirate
Well I've been quarantined for so long and I've had literally nothing to do with myself! I always try and draw everyday something new because it gives me something to do! This image tells us how the pandemic has us bored in the house but also how the pandemic has kept us creative with new things to do each day! *Creator:* I did! *Date:* Taken April 24th *Typee:* Its a drawing I drew during this time -
2020-04-15Peyton Butterfly
Soccer practice had been cancelled since March 16th. Peyton wanted to be outside again doing something creative. -
2020-04-14SPHNA_ARCHIVES
Video Creativity while in quarantine. Video with light effects zooming in on a person's eye. -
2020-05-01Finding Creativity
Midway through the quarantine it felt like everyone hit their stride with finding and logging their passions. Each of us became prolific in our own right Early April, when the first of us reached our apex and we realized it would be a lot longer than we’d anticipated. -
2020-04-29FaceTime Photoshoot
A photo of me (Sarah Lukowski) posing on FaceTime while my friend took a screenshot of it. FaceTime photoshoots are a new trend during quarantine. This is a creative way to take photos of a friend while social distancing. -
2020-04-23Too Many Delivery Boxes Become a Time Machine to Escape COVID-19
My son sits in a time machine he and his sister made out of the influx of delivery boxes that now arrive frequently with social distancing. He instructs guests to the time machine to choose a time "before or after the virus" to visit. -
2020-04-233 Post-Pandemic Music Predictions
The item chosen was an email received from a music production youtube channel. The email talks about the idea of the art coming out of this pandemic. people are in their houses discovering new things. -
2020-04-25Terrariums as Meditation
Isabella Hurley, age 19, has found both a new hobby and a new means of coping through terrarium creation. When I spoke to her about it, she said "it's like building a little planet. I get so caught up in planning each detail and arranging them, that I am able to forget about all the stress around me. I especially like doing intricate ones because they're time consuming." She said this wasn't something she had imagined doing before the pandemic, but that with her new abundance of free time she's been able to find a hobby that really calls to her. -
2020-04-24Paint situation is a bit out of control.
I've been letting my son Juliían Peralta-Kole paint everyday. He's been painting multiple times a day for a week now, but he seems less interested in painting on paper, and more curious about different uses for paint and painting with his fingers. I used painting to earn myself a brief reprieve this morning, and before I could finish my coffee he had paint all over his hands. I cleaned it up, and now the paint is put away. I'll only get it out when I'm able to watch him carefully. -
2020-04-23Boredom and New Hobbies
During the quarantine, my family and I have been trying to find fun and creative ways to occupy our time. We recently have been painting quite a bit. I find it really therapeutic and the time flies by when I am doing it. -
2020-04-17Tree Limb Arch, Cumberland Park, Cleveland Heights, OH
Within a few days after Gov. DeWine started Ohio's "shelter in place" order, a small arch made of tree limbs appeared in Cumberland Park along Cumberland Road. On a more recent walk, I found that someone had rebuilt the arch on a larger scale. It's interesting to watch for signs of how people do various things to fight boredom. -
2020-04-17Tree Limb Peace Sign
This is the reverse side of the post next to a giant peace sign fashioned out of tree limbs. The post reads "Be kind to each other. #ClevelandHeightsPeaceSign" -
2020-04-17Tree Limb Peace Sign
This post describes an activity related to the peace sign behind it. The post reads "Peace. Please take a power stick. Place it in your yard to remind you of [peace sign] and allow the birds to pick the yarn for their nests." To my mind, this community project shows the need to take actions to combat a sense of futility. Parks are more important than ever in this time when walking outside is one of the only safe ways to be outdoors. It's nice to see the community making an intentional, active use of this park. -
2020-04-17Tree Limb Peace Sign
Regular walks have taken on new importance for me amid the stress-inducing experience of living in a time of uncertainty. Watching the incremental emergence of spring has been more than a little therapeutic. On April 11, on a walk through Cumberland Park, I noticed that someone had arranged tree limbs into a giant peace sign in a former picnic area. Six days later, I passed by the same spot. Many sticks wrapped in various colors of yarn now lay in the middle of the peace sign, along with a post that explained the purpose of the sticks, inviting people to take a stick home so that birds could pick the yarn for their nests. I like how the community is appropriating spaces in the park to take small actions to restore a sense of agency, however small. -
2020-04-13You Do You
Given the way this virus has inserted itself into our lives, its effects can be felt by almost everyone. In order to stave off the inaction that can easily sneak in and attach itself to me, I have resolved to do two things. Make my bed and take a shower every day. I'm not saying that anyone else has to do them. It's okay to not master a new language or learn the harpsichord. But for me, if I do nothing one day, that soon turns into three or four days of doing nothing. When I see creativity on the web from people all around the globe, I'm inspired. So, I put artwork or drawing and painting tutorials online in the hopes that it might inspire others to be creative. You don't have to create something massive or incredible. Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference to someone else. So, that's the way to do it. Do something. Do you paint? Do you draw? Do you build furniture? Are you a whiz when it comes to growing turnips? Whatever it is, show it to others. Step outside yourself for a minute and maybe be that inspiration for someone else. Or not. There's a lot to be said for just keeping it together and getting up every day. If that's what you got - do that. Just wash your hands.