Week 7: The Takeaway
While the list of things we miss from our "normal" lives grows, there are small moments and experiences that bring us joy: more time with our children, our pets, our partners, or our gardens; less pollution in the cities and landscapes we love; rekindled connections with friends far away via video calls or letters. Yet, as the conversations turn to how to "reopen" after shut down, we wonder: What will change because of what we have learned? How have we shifted--personally, societally, globally--because of this experience? Have we learned anything at all?
With Guest Curator Amethyst Rey Beaver
Click photos below to see more detail.
What are your hopes/fears about what will change/not change in your life/the world?
Claire Bloomfield: I can see us all starting to develop into our own small worlds as we curl into our personal isolations, but I pray that space is warm, safe, and stuffed to the brim of creativity.
Io Makandal: My hopes are that we remain connected in our humility and become more adaptive, innovative and resilient and not fearful but rather courageous in our abilities to survive together in this troubling time. My fear is of the invisible power we are willingly giving to surveillance on our bodies to save lives. Although it IS necessary now, I worry how it will be enforced and continued in the new world we are released into.
Laura Rosengren: It seems that this pandemic has brought a simplicity to many of our lives that I hope can continue. The cancellation of so many good things has been hard, yet so is the pressure to keep up with ‘so many good things.’ I wonder if we will find we need to do or have or go as much moving forward.
Jihyun Lee: I am hoping that not many things will change too much after this global pandemic. However, I assume that inevitably we will be faced with some differences and there will be some things we need to change in our lives after all this traumatic situation ends. I really hope to end the human’s mercilessness towards nature. Up until now we have ignored the precious natural environment which we should have protected in many ways. Our planet tells us this is not right, and we must listen and change our habits and act properly and responsibly. Rather than getting afraid about the possible change to come in the world, I am more worried if our awareness or attitude towards the Earth does not change even after we have lived through these incredibly difficult times.
Jessica Smolinski: After this pandemic, I hope the earth has many more opportunities to heal and our culture shifts to prioritizing this; I hope as a nation, we actively fight for equity and undo racism (this pandemic has completely magnified inequities); I hope we have a cultural shift to prioritize humanity and de-value money, wealth and greed; I hope my children will not be negatively impacted by this moment but rather remember all of the fun we had together as a family; I hope creativity can continue to soar as there have been so many exciting ideas and projects to come from this moment; I hope we can slow down the busyness of our lives; I hope my children can return to school in the fall to their beloved friends and teachers; I hope to work more in the studio; I hope to read more books- preferably on the beach; I hope to spend lots of fun times together with extended family and friends; I hope to have more date nights!