Our nineteenth post of the series, Artists in the Time of Coronavirus includes Allyson Pettigrew, James Bonney, G.O.A.T Chronicles, Sean Saccomandi, Rodney Clerge, and Rebecca Jacob! Thank you for all who submitted! And if you want to participate, send your statement (250 words max) and 2 photos to support@theartblog.org. 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.
[Note: We have gotten over 200 submissions, so if you haven’t seen yours yet, don’t worry- it is coming, and we can’t wait to post it!]
Allyson Pettigrew
Since the world as we know it has come to a halt because of the coronavirus, I have been inspired to portray my feelings of isolation and fear, along with the hope I am trying to maintain. In my most recent photographs, I have been using the current landscape, slowly transforming from its winter bleakness to the budding life of spring, to represent those feelings.
Instagram: @allyson_underland
James Bonney
Covid-19 is turning reality on it’s head. Streets are empty and we have seemingly entered into a new world. It induces some anxiety in me, but in someways it feels like a sigh of relief from business as usual. I am fortunate to have this precarious moment as a time to consider what matters to me and what to do with myself. I hope others have opportunities to find silver linings in their circumstances.
I have included a photo of myself with a mural I painted for House of Vans and a sculpture that was recently part of a Space 1026 group show at Pullproof Studio in Pittsburgh. I hope to focus on new work while sheltering in place.
G.O.A.T Chronicles
The man at
the bus stopI’m bummed because I had to go to work amidst the current state of the world and all the pandemonium. But aye you gotta make money somehow. I got off work and walked the empty post apocalyptic-esque streets to the bus stop, i’ve arrived at the bus stop but as I’m waiting for the bus, i hear singing. I turned to my right and there was a raggedy addict with a leather jacket on and a pair of war torn jeans that looked like they’d seen more winters than I have, I could see the high in his eyes. His head was shiny in the middle like all his hair ran to the side and back of his head leaving his scalp vulnerable. He had about four teeth, two of what used to be teeth that now looked like stalactites hanging from his gums eroding away. He had one good leg and one bad one so he was limping but he was also happy so he was jumping, jump limping if you will.
After observing him I resumed browsing through my phone, about five seconds in, out the corner of my eye I realized he was approaching me. He was moving his deconstructed mouth around as to form a sentence but I couldn’t read his lips so I removed my headphones curious about what he had to say and he asked me as clearly as he could “Do you know what time the bus comes” I responded “In ten minutes” he shook his head in dismay as if he expected me to say something less than ten minutes, i found humor in his response.
He resumed singing and instead of putting my headphones back in I watched him, I began to think about how he once was a baby, an innocent honest child. My mind became so invested in unearthing what lie beneath that i began to almost physically see in real time the years take a toll on him from his birth up until now. I started to feel bad for him because he’s fighting a battle he’s very obviously been fighting for years, not winning or losing but just in it. He’s tormented day in and day out for his mind isn’t his own. He behaves as gollum, seeking satisfaction and gratification from that of which he craves ever so much. This man was being held captive, a slave to his mind and the cravings of his soul. He was trapped in a vicious cycle, only God knows how many times he’s attempted to recover and how many times he’s relapsed. Whatever the case was, it’s effects were self evident in his physical appearance and his goofy gait.
Sean Saccomandi
I am very happy to see that you are “taking in” artists during this time of need. I am an artist just breaking into this world, recently moved back to Philly after retiring from 20 years in the Navy.
Only after a few months I have a lot of things going on and as soon as everything got going, it all shut down. I have had 2 shows canceled and I had a piece on the observation deck of One Liberty which of course was shut down early. I don’t have any online outlets yet to sell so I was heavily relying on shows to promote my work and name.
The piece I have attached is my latest titled “hang in the Philly”, in reaction to our current situation.
Rodney Clerge
Hi my name is Rodney Clerge and heres some current quarantine work. Id have to say its been a bit a mental traffic jam as of recent. Every idea feels like THE idea to get started because as artist I’ve been offered time I have never had. Sat in the sun for a moment and just let the sunset be my time or until I could no longer stay awake. I want to make everything now and nothing will keep me from emptying my mental queue but for now its just the pursuit of what feels right.
I am on instagram as @s.novaarts and certain dont mind chats because if all I have is time to look for ideas or make them.
Rebecca Jacob
Stories define us. Beauty is a story I need to create, to share and to exist with. My current work is inspired by beautiful horizons that I have come upon in my life and travels.
I have incorporated a butterfly reflecting a recent personal experience. The message in butterflies usually means that anything you do, however how small or how unimportant it may seem at the time, each thing you do causes a major ripple effect. To Native Americans, the butterfly is a symbol of change, joy and color. The exquisite butterfly was considered a miracle of transformation and resurrection. In the Old World, the connotation was negative; the butterfly was thought to be the spirit of the dead.
