Items

• 
  2020-10-06

  How acting changes during the age of COVID

  This document is a list of requirements and guidelines for the attendance of a an acting workshop I was a part of in October of this year, as a part of a larger project the Drama Department at my university, St. Mary's was and is attempting to create a new and safer theatre experience for the coming semesters. The workshop we attended was, of course, created with the intent for attendees to participate in-person. Despite this, however, as the requirements here show, the fact that that was impossible, or at least very ill-advised, not only wasn't enough to prevent it from happening, it may have helped it in a good number of ways. For a first example, the individuals in charge of the workshop, affiliated with The Tectonic Theatre, were situated in New York, as opposed to my university being located in San Antonio Texas. The fact that the workshop was held virtually actually made it much more realistically approachable as otherwise the distance would have complicated matters considerably, which was taken care of in that way. In the same vein, as the requirements hint at with the items that are required, is that each person who participated was able to use their surroundings, almost exclusively their own homes, which they were of course very familiar with, to great affect for the exercises that were given to them. In fact, despite the initial misgivings that many of us-myself included-initially had, the workshop was able to take place not only just as well as it would have had it been in person, but in my personal opinion, it might have gone even better. All in all, the workshop was a pretty impressive look at overcoming complications from this pandemic and working around them to make the virtual experience lose nothing from an in-person experience.
• 
  2020-11-16

  Isolation Art

  Isolation Art, 2020 Acrylic on canvas, 36x24 Between March 24th and June I was working remotely, and terrified to leave the house. I tried to get into new hobbies and thought that FaceTime would be sufficient for human connection, but it was not. Several personal milestones were accomplished during those months and not being able to physically be with my family was tough. The anniversary of my father’s death was the most difficult even to grapple with alone, but I could not help but wonder who else had lost their father that day because of COVID. So, I painted. It’s difficult to tell, but the words on the canvas read, “I’m so fucking sad. I see and I don’t care.” The headspace I was in was not a good one but I am grateful that I was able to get out what I needed to when I needed to. I listened to the news daily and every time that number rose my heart sank further and my anxiety deeper. I have since repurposed the canvas and painted over it, but this photo remains.
• 
  2020

  Ben S. and his Art

  My friend Ben has been creating art ever since lockdown started and continue to make art for his studies and own enjoyment with all the extra free time some have gotten due to COVID-19. Ben is a queer artist who enjoys drawing anything from monsters to people and every iteration inbetween.
• 
  2020-10-29

  Blacktober - The Wind Rises

  Another example of a piece of Blacktober art, with a character from the Studio Ghibli movie, The Wind Rises.
• 
  2020-11-08

  "Mind the Gap" T shirt issued by Victoria's Eastern Health.

  This photo depicts a "Mind the Gap" t-shirt. "Mind the Gap" is a campaign run by the Eastern Health service to promote social distancing among patients and staff within hospitals. The shirt's slogan reads: "Mind the Gap Keeping 1.5 metres apart helps keep us all safe." The back of the shirt also includes the text: "eastern health".
• 
  2020-08

  Puzzles at home

  I was very fortunate to have been able to stay at home in Sydney this year, remotely attending my university in Melbourne via zoom classes and pre-recorded lectures. While I was grateful for this form of continuity I desperately missed Melbourne and the friends I’d made there. Spending days slowly working on this puzzle was both a way to pass the increasing amount of time I spent at home as well as way to feel a little more connected to the city I was missing.
• 
  2020-08

  The Plastic Ducks of Paddington

  Teddy bear hunts and rainbows in windows became a somewhat common sight during the lockdown as people tried to bring cheer to people passing by. My favourite variant was in the driveway of a house in Paddington. I have no idea who lives inside but I loved walking past and seeing what dramatic scene they’d managed to create with their plastic ducks. Whether re-creating Arthurian legend or bringing the beach to Paddington, a glimpse of the new story being told through ducks never failed to brighten my day.
• 
  2020

  Planners During a Pandemic

  HIST30060: Making History Stationery businesses are really milking year that was 2020. With lockdowns, quarantines, and cancelled or postponed events, anyone who bought a fresh new planner in anticipation of filling them with exciting appointments knows the disappointment of staring at the blank pages – or even worse, seeing the words, “Zoom Meeting.” Thus, the planners and diaries industry have really seemed to stepped it up a notch with their tactical launch of new products for the upcoming new year. Marketing new 2021 planners from as early as mid-2020, this false sense of acceleration into the future also falsely proposes that crossing that line into a new year somehow means the current global troubles of economy, virus and politics will somehow poof into the past, with no guarantee that our planners won’t be as empty as they were in the past year. With that being said, I totally caved into the marketing and bought a planner anyways.
• 
  2020-07-05

  'All ears'

  HIST30060 This illustration represents the importance of reaching out to people in times of need. I chose this because it was sent to me by my sister as I suffer from severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and during COVID my mental health measurably deteriorated.
• 
  2020-11-08

  Old money, New money

  HIST30060 It might not come as a surprise for people to learn that I, a history major, likes old things! Throughout this pandemic, I have become a frequent visitor of Etsy, searching for interesting vintage items to purchase. I have come out the other side of this pandemic with several old books, a set of 1950s cosmetic pots, a leather satchel and two old measuring tapes. Of course, in addition to things I have already collected over the years, including fossilised ammonites, more old books (including two copies of Shakespeare from the 1790s) and a pocket telescope from the 18th century. I feel like many people have indulged themselves during the pandemic, especially given the increased payments from the government allowing some people to have disposable income. And without having daily expenses such as public transport fares, for the first time I have been able to purchase some of these items without feeling guilty about myself for doing so. It makes me think about what type of things people do to cope during times of crisis. For me, clearly, it was some retail therapy, buying things that I enjoy. I am sure that many people will relate to that, considering the sheer amount of parcels the post office has to deal with from online shopping. I had always admired history from afar, but knowing that I can physically handle objects that have their own stories to tell has just reinvigorated my love for every chapter in the large book we call history.
• 
  2020-11-08

  Masks masks masks

  HIST30060 This photograph is of the variety of the face masks used by myself and my sister throughout this pandemic. I like how it shows the variation in information that was received by "Dan the Man", Premier Daniel Andrews. First, any type of mask was allowed to be used (including some single-layer ones seen here). Then the recommendation was triple-layered masks. And now, face shields are not allowed to be worn. Not that my sister or I ever actually wore the face shield - that was given to us by our grandmother. Actually, all of the masks we have were sewed by our grandmother. For that, I am grateful because it saved us from having to deal with the rush of finding and purchasing masks after were made mandatory. I like to think that if people time travelled to today from even a year ago, they would question such an odd fashion choice. And that is what they have become for a lot of people, a fashion choice. I recall seeing during the Melbourne Cup a lot of co-ordinated masks with outfits, and they have opened an avenue for people to display their interests on their face. A new and unexpected way for people to connect, even as our expressions are being masked. All I can say is that I'm grateful for the majority of Melbournians taking to these masks, and even though we had our fair share of "Bunnings Karen," we are far better off than other countries.
• 
  2020-02-28

  Don't take it(fashion) away from me!

  I chose this piece of media because this shows the intertwining of the government's edict to wear masks and fashion. This made me realize two things- first was that even in a pandemic like this, people still do want to improvise and try to earn money and secondly, beauty and fashion is what makes life worth living, as even in such a tumultuous time such as now, we find a way to overcome and make the world a brighter place;people will always find a way to put fashion and style in everything even in such a dangerous time as this. We see people even taking advantage of this new business venture, as when I was strolling around in Caesar's Palace, I saw a store selling Covid-19 related fashion clothes such as those in the picture above. This seems to be a compromise of the people and the government- "ok, we'll wear masks, but don't take it(the fashion) away from me!".
• 
  2020-05-07

  Quarantine Cross-Stitch

  In Spring 2020, after the pandemic closed the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire campus, UWEC history major Katie Boucher handmade this cross stitch during quarantine.
• 
  2020-05-08

  Neighbourhood entertainment

  Early in the Covid 19 lockdown I found these notes posted on telephone poles along my path to the train station. I later heard a rumour that they'd been sighted all the way along the local bike path. Whether the story they tell is real or not I love that someone in the neighbourhood was providing a story for the community to follow on their daily walks. It felt like following an old fashioned newspaper serial. We've all had to find new forms of entertainment, and since gyms shut down and people started working from home, people seem to have been taking up walking like never before. (HIST30060)
• 
  2020-11-04

  A Puzzling Distraction

  HIST30060. Millions of people picked up hobbies during their respective lockdowns, mine happened to be puzzles. A few in this photo I had before lockdown, but most was bought in the lead up to, as well as during. I bought my first colour puzzle about a month before lockdown started, when I first discovered the board games store Mind Games in Melbourne's CBD, though I did not touch it until study at home began. These puzzles gave me something I could be good at, with only one still incomplete months after I first got it (in my defence, it changes colour). They allowed me to multitask, I would watch movies for university while I had a puzzle in front of me, I discovered so much music through my Spotify recommended playlists that have become solid favourites, I've caught up on podcasts that were usually relegated to my daily commute to university. They gave me something I could control, in a time of change and confusion, a welcome distraction from everything happening outside of my house.
• 
  2020-11-04

  A Rainbow

  HIST30060. The only time I would frequently leave my house during lockdown was to go and see my partner. I saw him for absolutely none of the first lockdown in Melbourne but would often see him during the second lockdown. He was only a quick train and a short walk away, so I consider myself lucky that I was able to see him at all. I pass this house every time I walk to his and it encourages children and adults alike to count all the rainbows. It became a part of my routine, each time I would go to his I would pass this house and would feel my day get just a little bit brighter. It was only recently that he told me there are other houses around his suburb like this, aiming to give children a little distraction if they happen to pass by. The lockdown was long but necessary, so it shows me that there's hope that there's still some good in this world, with strangers hoping to give one another a distraction and a smile with a rainbow.
• 
  2020-04-29

  "Reasons I Can't Do My Homework"

  This digital comic demonstrates the anxiety and fears that arose during the pandemic around April of 2020. The artists shows how they are being overwhelmed by the fears for their own life and the lives of their loved ones because you can clearly see “mom” and “grandma” in the fears scrolling through their brain. Because of these fears there is no room for “school work” and “classes”.
• 
  2020-10-31

  Eagerness to Celebrate

  HIST30060. My first journey to the city after months of staying within 5km of my own home, you begin to take for granted the daily trips to university, the train and tram rides, and being around other people. I got to go to shops I haven't been to before and have discovered during lockdown as well as food that I have missed dearly and was a welcome change after so much monotony and repetition. These places were bouncing back after months of hardship and everyone seemed so keen to participate in society again. It's a first step towards normality, and I believe nothing speaks to that greater than seeing Christmas decorations on Halloween. It was October, and there was a giant Christmas tree in QV. Not many superficial things cause me to seethe, but it was over 50 days until Christmas. However, it's an annoying but nice way to demonstrate that there's a level of hope among everyone with the December holidays being a point in the future that everyone in Victoria holds dear. We hope that we will be able to travel interstate to visit friends and family for Christmas, that we can have gatherings at home around a BBQ celebrating Christmas and the holidays, but also the love we share for one another and the joy at being able to be together again. I believe this year will be the only one where I will not mind as much to see these decorations so early, as they demonstrate hope and a return to everything we know and love.
• 
  2020-03-20

  Artis-Naples Social Media Post

  Instagram post by the Artis-Naples. The photograph is their sign that reads “May memories of this season’s iconic moments help you through this difficult time. Be well!” The Artis-Naples is home to the Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum. The post itself announces that they will be taking time on their Instagram account to go through the memories of the season’s moments. There is a link to their website regarding COVID-19.
• 
  2020-05-06

  HIST30060: Trying to create a Place of Greater Safety

  HIST30060: I read this quote during the first Victorian lockdown, and I completely resonated with it. The isolation of lockdown had somehow made the biggest event of my life, and possibly the century, feel repetitive, mundane and even boring. It was strange to me that I could accurately describe a crisis atmosphere as dreary, in a way I would never before have been able to understand.
• 
  2020-07-03

  Filling the time whilst working in fast food

  HIST30060 During this year, I was luck enough to still be able to work in my fast food job due to the JobKeeper program, which saw the government paying the wages of part time and full time staff, as well as certain casuals. I would work 2 to 3 shifts a week in the city, which allowed me time to get out of the house and socialise with my coworkers. Restrictions meant we did not receive many customers, with our main source of income coming from the delivery platforms my boss installed. Despite this work, it did not mean I was able to escape the boredom most faced during the prolonged periods of restrictions, as there is only so much cleaning you can do in the periods where we had no customers. To fill the time, I began recreating famous paintings I could find online in miniature form, using the materials I could find in store, such as white board markers and receipt paper. Pictured here is my attempt at recreating Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ (bottom left), the ‘Great Wave off Kanagawa’ by Hokusai (right), and Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’ (top left).
• 
  2020-07-10

  Decorating Ubereats bages

  HIST30060 Restrictions meant many food shops in the city, like the one I worked at, received barely any customers during the harshest periods of quarantine. The 5km rule meant not many people had access to our location, whilst most of our customers who usually worked in office jobs in the city were also tasked with working from home. Our main source of income became the multiple delivery platforms my boss installed in our store. To both fill the quieter periods in the store, and to show the customers who ordered via these delivery platforms how much their business meant, my boss tasked everyone with decorating Uber bags and writing nice messages to customers. In this photo, you can see a design my colleague drew on an Uber bag, which was later used to carry Gilbert’s food. This small act connected both customer and business and showed our appreciation for the customers support of our small business.
• 
  2020-10-30

  Artful Practices for Wellbeing

  I found this post while doing research on museums and their pathing through the plague year. Here’s one of many examples where museums continue to produce new content for the public to aid in the routines of life.
• 
  2020-10-30

  Building True, Lasting Collaborations with Source Communities

  This is an excellent online article I found while exploring the American Alliance of Museums website. It discusses the development of American museums by focusing their efforts on community-expertise to curate their items in the midst of a pandemic.
• 
  2020-10-30

  Keeping Constant Connection

  Museums have suffered in a very unique way during the Covid-19 pandemic. Without the primary form of interaction with society, in-person, museums are forced to translate their material online where chances are high they become just another online source or library. The Institute of Museum Ethics goes beyond its name in its content. Almost like a social media website for museums, the IME posts the latest stories and news regarding all things artifacts, donations, and media coverage on museum developments; a really great tool for any researcher and a pleasant read for anyone who takes an interest in preserving the present and appreciating the old.
• 
  2020-10-27

  Its Everywhere!

  The effects of the pandemic can be seen in the most unexpected places!
• 2020-10-05

  Xbox Live Shenanigans

  This is a trap remix of Darkthrone’s “Transilvanian Hunger” that I made on my phone in GarageBand. My friends and I usually congregate on Xbox Live every night after we get home from work for the night. With rising costs, dwindling savings, and less work available than ever before, we don’t really plan things anymore. When we do, the plans usually include cooking dirty burgers, drinking beer, and playing board games at someone’s house. That and playing Xbox together are the cheapest options for hanging out that we even have. Lately, our favorite pastime has been making beats on our iPhones in GarageBand. Someone jokingly told me that Norweigan black metal is the only un-sampleable musical genre. I set out to prove him wrong. Laughter and hilarity ensued.
• 
  2020-10-30

  “We’ve been gearing up for this financial year”: Hornby returns to profit for first time in nearly a decade

  During the pandemic, many people have turned hobbies to keep themselves busy and to relieve stress. Because of this, the hobby industry has seen a revitalization. Some company's, such as Hornby, are seeing profits for the first time in years.
• 
  2020-10-24

  "There is a before and an after. Treat yourself gently." - Red Blood, Black Ink

  A poem about the times, and how it drags on. Transcript: [People say this new thing - well, that was before. We casually delineate - oh, but then quarantine. No, this was after March. I hear the same tired, bitter tone in myself. Of course, I say, then covid happened. I mock my own choices; grit my teeth about finances, sneer about my English degree, sigh about loans from college. I regret what I didn’t appreciate. What I took for granted. I get angry at my past self - the trouble she didn’t avoid. But I also hear - each of us, just a little, being gentle to each other. Well, you didn’t know, we say. It’s okay, we say, you will find something. Oh, tell me about gardening. Tell me about those new hobbies. Tell me about the crack in the floor you spent a week trying to refinish. Tell me about the new show you’ve been watching. It’s okay if it’s not much. It’s okay if you have no idea what the future looks like. It’s okay, none of us do. Be gentle to yourself. On this side of events, we care more, listen harder, value time with others. We talk about birds and we notice clouds and we have slowed down. There is a before and an after. Treat yourself gently.]
• 
  2020-10-16

  Theories on Bodies

  With quarantine came time, and time came art. For those privileged enough, a Renaissance has arisen within the art community. This art was made by a friend of mine who is quite dear to me who made this art for a work-in-progress album while in this ever-so-long quarantine.
• 
  2020-10-28

  Spoons send hope

  HIST30060 The pandemic has brought together communities in a way that little else has. It is often during the worst times in history that people seek comfort and solidarity in each other, secure in the knowledge that every person is in the same boat as them. We have seen similar Spoonville’s pop up in different suburbs around Melbourne. I believe that their purpose is something for children to enjoy when going out on walks during the many months in lockdown. When I first saw the Spoonville’s being posted on social media, I thought that it was a cute and fun idea. It wasn’t until I saw them myself that I realised the impact of what those spoons represent. People took the time to make them, create the desire for more to be made and I am sure inspired joy in the young children of my community. In times when so much is uncertain, it is nice to walk by the spoons and see them still there, a representation of the heart of Laverton.
• 
  2020-09-17

  Life in the Time of Coronavirus

  From March through August, I walked through the environs of downtown Tucson to make images capturing the effect of the pandemic.
• 
  2020-09-16

  After George Floyd

  From March through August, I walked through the environs of downtown Tucson to make images capturing the effect of the pandemic. After the murder of George Floyd, I also documented the aftermath of the resultant demonstrations during the end of May and June.
• 
  2020-10-29

  A 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
• 
  2020-04-15

  Painting in Quarantine

  During quarantine, we were all very bored and going a little stir crazy. One day, I really wanted to get into painting because it is relaxing for me, and it takes up a lot of time. This is important to me because it was something during lockdown that made me feel relaxed and calm. It was a stressful time for everyone, and we all had to find hobbies that would keep us busy. I think that is what this says about the pandemic, we had to find these little things to keep us going throughout the long days stuck inside, and painting really helped me do that.
• 
  2020-10-28

  starman has depression

  [Transcript]: Panel 1: I cry out - for a gentle hand, a wink or a nod, some sign that the universe cares and that it hasn't all been in vain. Panel 2: But there is no sign. Panel 3: A bird is just a bird, a crane is just a crane, the peng girl you saw on the bus wasn't God in disguise, she was just a peng girl. Panel 4: The universe shrugs.
• 
  2020-10-23

  WHO’s COVID-19 Infection map, 23 Oct 2020

  The WHO is an authoritative source for tracking COVID-19 infection rates via various countries Centers of Disease Control. For several months, most countries contained COVID-19 infection rates. As expected, infection rates dramatically increased as governments relaxed restrictions. This represented the forecasted second-wave. Unlike the first wave, mortality rates were much lower. Several possible causes from improved pre-vaccinne treatment plans to poor testing and tacking during first wave biased mortality rates. Lastly, it represented born-digital content regarding COVID-19.
• 2020-10-01

  crochet me a quarantine blanket

  I had seen youtube videos of people making a “quarentine blanket” I did know how to crochet but i never took serious interest in it before. But now with all this time i said f it and i pulled everything out. I had so many things that i forgot i had, i was a little overwhelmed at first but after a couple youtube videos i figured out what everyting does and i got the hang of it. If we never had this pandemic, i would have never been able to take an interest in it and also i wouldnt have thought i could ever do it.
• 
  2020-08-08

  The arts

  I saw this as I scrolled Facebook the other day. I must admit that the arts have never really been in my scope of interest. And by that, I mean performing arts and such. COVID has affected my personal life in many ways but I never thought about the arts and how they have all been affected. This photo changed that for me. As a mom, kid sport games would affect me much more but this picture forced me to look outside of my bubble and into the loss and effects of other groups of people. I think the reality of the arts, specifically performing arts, is that it has been on a slow decline for a few years and COVID just caused devastation to that. I hope posts like this pop up on people's feed like it did to me and force people to look outside of their own bubbles.
• 
  2020-10-20

  Introverts love being indoors

  How this simple facial expression illustrates government inaction, is the fact that the state governments have generally done one thing consistently, keep everyone indoors for longer periods of time than originally anticipated, and introverts love this. Not to be bothered by anyone else but themselves, the best part is, the duration of said quarantine keeps increasing, from a few weeks, then a month, then multiple months, half a year, nearly hitting nine months so far. Now due to the fact that the United States is such a large country featuring different cultures and conditions, very little federal law has been made in response to the virus. In fact some states, such as California, took a very cautious route of keeping everyone indoors for longer and longer periods of time. In contrast to other states, such as Wyoming. That state never went into a total lockdown, they only limited gatherings of 10 people at a time. Then loosened to 25, and now lifted the restriction at all. With only 760 positive cases, in a state filled with thousands of people. By leaving the state governments to decide on their restrictions was the best course of action, since there is no, “One size fits all” solution for each state. By having the federal government exercise inaction and allowing the states to work on their solutions could have potentially saved the economy from entering an even worse state or spiked the positive cases to an even higher extent. Coleman, Kali. These 6 States Never Went into Lockdown. Here's How They're Doing. 10 June 2020, www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/these-6-states-never-went-into-lockdown-here-s-how-they-re-doing/ss-BB15jodG. No author, screenshot sent to me through a friend, funny looking facial expression. 10 October
• 
  2020-04-23

  Pandemic Poetry

  When I read this poem by Don Arbor called “For Better or Worse”, I instantly felt connected because we all are facing the same problems throughout this pandemic. We feel the need to stay home and stay away from others but are able to still virtually be there for one another. We might not be able to experience life in the same aspect as we use to, but we have to expect for better days to come. One thing that stuck out was how he was still able to appreciate what he has in this exact moment instead of being negative. He states that he is grateful and lucky, but he will never be able to forget something so disheartening. In the fourth stanza all the way to the end, he starts to get into politics and describes how things were a few yeas ago when Obama was president. Don Arbor discusses how Obama cared about the American people just as much as he cared about himself. He was willing to stick to his morals and be active within the government compared to what is happening right now. Don believes that most individuals feel how he is feeling and that the possibility of better days are yet to come.
• 
  2020-07-18

  Notes for Nurses

  This is a photo from inside the COVID unit at St. Joseph's Hospital. Children all over the Phoenix area have been sending drawings and letters to the frontline workers, thanking and encouraging them to keep saving lives. The nurses on the unit have put them all over the windows and walls for everyone to see.
• 
  2020-10-15

  Zoom Meeting/Saint Jerome writing, 2020

  Covid has changed everything and some professions have been more affected than others. For the arts, it has been very weird. First, due to the closure of galleries and events, an artist had the opportunity to create without interruptions, but the codependency of the artist with the art institutions is too strong. The painting was made by my husband, Diego Perez. He is a local artist in Arizona. At the beginning of the quarantine in March, he was so productive but after a few months, the creative process was affected by the lack of social interaction, exhibitions, call for artists, public art opportunities. He started to paint portraits, people with masks, but nothing was worth it because there was no space to exhibit or to sell. Online events weren't the same, ultimately, our virtual interaction is not enough for anyone. The painting "Zoom meeting/Saint Jerome Writing" represents the first approach to art normality, at least for my family. Carmody Foundation opened a call for artists in August and Diego was selected. The painting is a hagiography for Saint Jerome but in a pandemic mode, you will be able to see the important elements such as the skull, the red fabric, the writing...
• 
  2020-06-03

  The Ribbon Handkerchief

  At the beginning of the pandemic my family was afraid to go out because mom works at a retirement. We were afraid of unknowing contract COVID-19, passing it on to her and then her passing it on to the elderly residents at her work. Most of our weekend activities involved going out: shopping, hiking, visiting friends. Since we couldn't go out save for a few exceptions we needed to find new activities to fill our spare time. Which led us to old hobbies. When I was younger, my mom and I would do needlecraft together but when I entered high school I decided I was too busy for that. We packed all the supplies up and stowed them away in the closet. Since we had nothing else to do, we got out our old supplies and dusted them off. We didn't have many patterns or other supplies left but we did have a few things. One of the few things we had was an old handkerchief embroidery kit, an old gift to my mom from one of my aunts. This particular kit involved ribbons, something I had never worked with before. The handkerchief took longer to complete than it probably should have, especially since it was such a small area, but I got it done even if it wasn't perfect. Although it was such a small thing, working on this handkerchief helped take my mind off of things and alleviate my boredom for at least a little while.
• 
  2020-08-08

  Self Expression in a Pandemic

  The media above is a picture sent to me by a close friend whose mom’s friend was making these masks and selling them to people during quarantine. This means a lot to me because since the pandemic had already been around for a while, people began to find ways to express themselves and their culture through our required masks. Not only that, but it also proves the financial crisis many people were in and the small ideas they have in order to make some extra money to make ends meet. Although the government did send financial aid out, for many it wasn’t enough. These masks show both our insistence to express ourselves during a crisis and the inability for the government to provide proper aid to the citizens.
• 
  2020-10-16

  Mask Up New Mexico

  I found this image on the internet. It depicts Clint Eastwood wearing a mask with the caption "Mask up New Mexico". The imagery is based on the western movies Eastwood is known for.
• 
  2020-09-27

  The Hobbies We Have Used to Get Through Covid-19

  I chose this painting, because it is symbolic of one of the many hobbies I developed in order to get through this pandemic and social distancing through the past few months. Many people have picked up new hobbies in order to distract themselves or learn something that they have always wanted to do. I chose paint-by-numbers, because I have always loved painting, but I have never been very good at it. So, I chose the next best thing: paint-by-numbers. Everyone has different tastes and coping mechanisms. I thought it would be interesting to catalog the different hobbies that people have picked up in order to cope or distract themselves with from the pandemic
• 
  2020-08-19

  Memes

  It's showing how we're are all social distancing. right now I am doing online school because of the pandemic
• 2020-10-14

  An Empty Theater

  Every year for the last 20 years, our community has planned, practiced, and performed a tribute to Broadway in a production called "Best of Broadway". We have a cast of over 100 local community members that sing and dance to 20 or so different Broadway songs. Our rehearsals are in an old Veterans Memorial building that comes to life during January to March with our songs, lights, and energy. The chants in the hall echos against the old walls, the stomping of feet on the stage threatens those downstairs, and the beat of the music pumps your heart. When one is in the hall, they are guaranteed to hear laughter in the back corner, a director shouting at the sound guy, and a piercing squeal in the speakers. The sounds in the hall define the busy enthusiasm of the cast and crew. However, this year, our production was shut down the day before our opening night due to Covid-19. The heartbreak of working for months on a show that was cancelled was devastating. After our annual production, we always have a day to clean and put our props and costumes away and clean the hall. But, this year, we just...left. The hall remains filled with our Broadway stuff. And when someone walks into the building, the silence of a show that was never performed is deafening.
• 
  2020-04-01

  Jupinese JuJu Covid-19 video

  Since March 2020, the Hungry March Band, for which I have played tenor sax for about 20 years, has been on pause. We have not met, rehearsed, or done a gig this whole time. The only thing we have done is to create a few Covid-19 videos, in which everyone gets to have a different panel, since we can't all be together-then the editors mash everything together. This one is to the music of one of our oldest songs, Jupinese-JuJu. What I particularly love about the video is that we included shots of long time fans, emeritus members, and their families. I put in a couple of screen shots of me and my spouse (he's the pillow man) and a link to the video on Youtube.