Our fiftieth post of the series, Artists in the Time of Coronavirus includes Francesca Costanzo, Laura Ann Colussi, Rebecca Hoenig, Bill Timmins, Darrell Black, and Martha Ferguson! Thank you for sharing with us and the Philly art community!
We have gotten over 300 submissions, and we are so grateful to all participants. The time has come to close our inbox to submissions. So if you want to participate, send your statement (250 words max) and 2 photos to support@theartblog.org before July 29, 2020, at 11:59 PM. More details here. Stay safe and stay positive, and come back in the days to come for more “Artists in the Time of Coronavirus.” We have a wonderful community and are so proud of being able to share everyone’s art.
Francesca Costanzo
March began with a funeral. It was the father of my best friend. Everyone was apprehensive to hug and comfort each other. No one kissed hello nor goodbye. We all just sat there and got drunk at the luncheon.
That was the beginning of my shelter-in-place.
As things got worse, my creativity got lost. Someone else I knew had died of the virus. A week and a half of depressing news forced me into the kitchen. I started baking.
After the first couple of batches, I felt a renewed challenge. I ravaged my kitchen for ingredients to make anything that would keep the anxiety at bay— Peanut Butter Cookies, Easter Bread, Focaccia, Baguettes, White Chocolate Torta Caprese, Italian Lemon Olive Oil cake, even Potato Gnocchi. I would drive to friends’ homes for their curbside deliveries … it helped to stay in touch and uplifted my mood as well as theirs. Each baking session brought new challenges, and what started as my mother’s simple biscotti recipe, quickly grew to Cream-filled Profiteroles dipped in Chocolate Ganache.
By May 15, I replaced baking with Netflix binges. I had gained 12 pounds.
May’s end brought tears and bloodshed. First, it was an innocent bird watcher in Central Park, and then, George Floyd. Police brutality followed by looting and more destruction. Inside me, something finally clicked. My creativity came back with a vengeance. And as a multi-media artist, I could not stay silent.
Laura Ann Colussi
Time demands us to fill it. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic I was desperately trying to find things with which to fill my family and my time. As the weeks went on, I realized time does not demand to be filled, rather society expects us to use our time up every day. I finally had a break from time. The hours, days and months no longer mattered. I became more reflective and less goal oriented. My time was mine to savor, not fill. This mindset led me to this series of work.
This piece is an open journal entry to anyone who sees them. Big Foxie is the name of a stuffed animal my oldest son loves. He is Big Foxie. It is a reflection on motherhood as well as the scarifies and joys of raising kids. Nature requires a lot from its women, but we do it. We find joy and peace in creating and caring for the lives we bring into this world, but we also lose some part of ourselves in the process. This series of work is a commentary on the inner struggle of what is asked of and required from mothers, specifically during this time at home. This piece represents a moment from my children’s lives. A simple moment, that over quarantine, happened a hundred times over. A moments that I wanted to immortalize and remember. The medium of paper mache, however, is not a permanent one. My pieces will eventually weather, which is intentional, because like all things, nothing lasts forever.
Rebecca Hoenig
I am sending 2 images of my recent work. While I am a fine artist that is working on becoming a children’s book illustrator, I have found it difficult to work on the illustrations for my portfolio during this tumultuous time in history. After the murder of George Floyd, I felt compelled to do something to express all my feelings and I simply went in my studio like a possessed person and worked madly on the “I Can’t Breathe” painting. I felt that I needed to really say something with text and pure abstraction. I used stencils for the text and multiple applications of frisket (masking fluid) before painting with watercolors. My application of the paint was very raw and fast and furious without any conscious thought. I used plastic straws to blow the frisket and paint around in a nod to the difficulty of breathing. I actually felt a bit light headed as I lay on the floor blowing the paint and frisket around as quickly as possible before it dried.
I have two websites:
www.rebeccahoenig.com – “fine art”
www.rebeccajanehoenig.com -illustration
Bill Timmins
Living in the time of Coronavirus provides an interesting dichotomy. For many, it has imposed a time of isolation, of slowing down, a time for reflection. For others, it has been a time of non-stop work, of service to others, of exhaustion and of danger.
Artist’s reactions have varied in terms of creative endeavors. For some, this respite has provided a surge of creativity, greater productivity and a plethora of themes from which to choose. For others, it’s been a time of uncertainty, resulting in difficulty focusing, diminished creativity, and reduced productivity, at times bordering on artistic paralysis.The process of painting involves somewhat of a solitary existence. In normal times, I enjoy this aspect of painting; the quiet solitude of the studio is an isle of calm in a sea of worldly chaos. I can reflect on artistic choices made in the moment and change course as I so desire. A luxury afforded in few areas of life.
Artistic solitude is counterbalanced via time spent with others artists. Whether its visual artists, writers, or musicians, artists yearn for a sense of community. Readings, concerts, studio visits and gallery openings are places where ideas are exchanged, feedback provided, and creativity fed. This social forum is vital; one cannot thrive in an artistic vacuum.
For me, sheltering has upset this delicate equation; an inordinate amount of time spent alone and no physical contact with family, friends and colleagues has taken its toll both mentally and creatively. I yearn for the time when physical and social interactions return.
Darrell Black
Being isolated in my studio gave me necessary insight into my paintings which helped to propel my Artwork into a new and bold direction. Some level of isolation helps to support creativity but a mixture of personal and social interactions will always be the necessary ingredients for artwork to be productive, creativity and flourish in society. For example, the ”Corona Virus” gave me the inspiration to create a series of works on paper documenting the pandemic and medical staff on the front lines of the fight. I made these images with the intention of warning society and asking all people to respect the delicate balance of nature which embraces all of humankind.
Martha Ferguson
Shield Project
These sculptures were inspired by my study of Medieval Arms and Armor from the 16th century. I am particularly interested in the concept that shields provided the warrior with personal protection and supernatural power in battle. I found it fascinating to discover that incantations for survival were often woven into the armor, bringing to them a magical element for added security.
I began this investigation into the power of Shields several years ago, as my response to a world in crisis and my feelings of the need for a collective protection. In 2020, in this time of Coronavirus, this need for protection and healing has taken on a monumental sense of urgency. Environmental issues, humanitarian concerns, inequalities and political conflicts call for our immediate action. The “Shield Project” is my attempt to offer power to strengthen our resolve toward positive change while exploring concepts of defense, fortification and magic.
My interest here is to pause for a moment and reflect upon these multilayered social concerns and recognize how perhaps a bit of magic, the magic of visualizing positive energy, can heal.
