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How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting your life right now? Tell us about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts.
I tend to express myself better with art than words, this tends to be due to the shortcomings of language and the confusion surrounding the way in which an audience perceives what is either being said or written. Though there is much room for interpretation with art, I feel it has a more universal and connecting role in our lives. Along with being able to express myself in this way much more fluently are the reasons why I choose to draw my experiences. Covid caused my unemployment and partially my homelessness, my brother and I had to couch hop which was a challenge during these times. Staying safe, having people willing to help due to the virus and other health related issues surrounding it. The same goes for finding a house to rent, though we eventually did, it was a friend of a family instead of an apartment or other. Places weren't renting out and there weren't vacant homes due to the inability to evict. My family has always been really important to me but they are at increased risk due to my parents age so we limited severally our physical contact and now live on our own. Food Pantries were more difficult to use due to restrictions and precautions and limited supplies. Being an artist and going to university has changed much as well, not being able to make art in the studios or have in person critics and lessons completely changed how I made art. My space was much smaller, I had access to less supplies and tools. I had to rent internet and a laptop from campus to continue my education while homeless until now. These challenges have only helped me grow not only as an artist but as a person as well. We continue to take precautions and follow all the guidelines.
January 18, 2021
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Have people in your community supported one another during the pandemic? Talk about why or why not, and maybe give some examples.
I think that my community is divided. There is a part of the community that is very supportive of others and that is trying to work to care for people who are struggling during the pandemic. Another portion of my community seems to be in denial that the pandemic is an issue and they do not seem as supportive. I have seen many people coming out to volunteer for things like testing and vaccination drives and there have been many fundraisers and drives to donate to local charities. Early on in the pandemic one of my favorite local restaurants was closed but held an event where you could purchase groceries from them that were originally intended to be part of their menu. You could donate to a fund to make grocery deliveries to families in need. They were also selling things like hand sanitizer made by a local distillery. This restaurant uses a lot of local farms and producers for their menu so I was pleased to support the business and in turn support all of those other local businesses. There have been a number of fundraisers similar to this throughout the community. In addition, in my school community, one member of another class lost her house in a fire and we all donated money and supplies to furnish her new apartment. There have been a number of events like this and I have tried to give where I was able. I felt that a lot of these activities happened in the spring and summer when things were more uncertain. Recently I have noticed that a large portion of my community seems indifferent to their impact on others and willfully ignores that pandemic. They continue to eat out at restaurants and refuse to wear masks. I know that these people may have many reasons for doing these things but they are directly impacting others in their community. When they go to a restaurant they are at risk of getting or transmitting coronavirus. The restaurant workers are there because they have to work, and they are being exposed to all of these people who just can't seem to stay home. Then again, not everyone has a kitchen or a good way to eat at home and for some people going to a restaurant may be an essential part of their human contact for the week. It is difficult to judge someone for going out at this point because I can't imagine how hard it would be to hardly leave your house for a year. I have felt lucky in some ways that I am in a program that gives me a reason to talk to people and to go out in public. At other times I have felt anxious about being around people and about the risk to myself and to others.
March 7, 2021