April 13: Signs of a Socially Distant Spring
Quaranzine is a weekly collection of creative works from the Arlington community that documents how we responded to this strange time we find ourselves in. Submit your own work.
Molly McCracken, "Try to Relax" - We are all hyper-aware of hand washing, face touching and physical distancing these days. Doing something that would have been relaxing pre-COVID-19, like a massage, now feels threatening. Made with collaged elements including a withdrawn sticker from an old library book, updated with a new stamp date; found images; painted paper; and fingerprints from a stamp pad, pressed three times to represent the decrease in virulence on surfaces over the course of days.
Everly Jazi, "Love in a Time of Coronavirus" - For all those who are suddenly separated by lockdowns and shelter-in-place announcements.
Brooke Lackock-Nisly, "Basement Apartment Office" - Lighthearted pun about our dimly-lit basement. We're working re-mole-tly! Follow the hashtag #newlyremoted on Instagram and Facebook to see Brooke's quirky weekday doodles as she depicts her experiences working from home with her husband. Not only are they newly-wed, they're both #newlyremoted.
Sarah Campany, "Prince@AlcovaRocks" - Prince and I investigate @AlcovaRocks during our walks. They are uplifting bursts of color and joy by local artists. These rocks provide neighborly connection while practicing social distancing.
Erika Johnson, "Coronavirus and Allergies" - I am a seasonal allergy sufferer. As spring arrived early this year in the DC area, there have been a number of mornings that I've woken up with symptoms that could either be allergies or the Coronavirus. The attached comic was inspired by this conundrum.
Don Rubin, "Around Here" - Acrylic on paper, 24x24
Victoria Dale, "Immerse Yourself: Thoughts on Passing the New Plague With the Legends of Drag" - My piece is both an essay and a book review. As it happens I discovered this great book after we closed the library due to coronavirus. I also run the LGBTQIA book club at Shirlington, so I will be recommending it to the group, but until then, I wanted to share the experience of discovering such a compelling topic and book at such a unique time in history.
Bekah Richards, "The Poets Are Stranded" - Blackout poetry/collage: "A map of miracles, prayers as dark as ink, the poets are stranded."
Brooke Stoneman, "Inside Home" - I keep a daily sketchbook of things I encounter when I'm out and about each day. With outside trips severely limited these days, I have been looking inside for inspiration. This practice has helped me reconfigure what "doing something" looks like and what the markers of a "productive day" might be.
Rashmi Dighe, "Unmasked" - A short poem reflecting on the state of affairs during this quarantine.
Adriana Sheppard, "Home Sweet Worm" - Have you every wanted to escape? Go to a beautiful cottage in the woods? An escapade from your worries? Well say no more, and consider renting this humble estate from Mr. Worm! This one bedroom two bath relaxing chalet is complete with its own swimming pool and lush forest. Keep your mind off of the world by setting yourself in a peaceful plant pot. Your serene vacation is waiting!
Abby Hargreaves, "Let's Stay Home (please)" - A reminder that staying home will ultimately lead to life, even if we don't feel it now.
Barbara Bryant, "COVID-19: To Men a Scourge, To Dogs, a Cruel Tease" - Essay comparing the lifestyle changes COVID-19 triggered, which could be viewed as a terrible curse to one species but, ironically, an unforeseeable boon to another.
Maribeth Egan, "Corona Spring" - Pen and ink with gouache / 5" x 6"
Beckie DiPasquale, "Sidewalk Angel" - A sweet neighbor made chalk photo stations, a maze and an obstacle course for children to enjoy on their daily walk outside.
Marianne Petrino, "Tangled" - On a walk I saw this kite impaled on a tree. The gripping branches reminded me of how I have felt during this pandemic: tangled and trapped. The fact that the pattern on the kite is the Stars and Stripes expands that feeling to what my fellow citizens must be experiencing too. It might seem a bleak image, but a strong wind will free the kite. Our resolve to social distance is the strong wind that will eventually free us from this pandemic.
Ali Coyle, "Gator Eye"- In the midst of the pandemic our Arlington County art class run by Jim Halloran has moved online and we paint together on zoom after watching a YouTube video Jim made as a lesson. It's pretty great to still get to connect with everyone and be distracted.
Eric Cassel, "The Essence of the Times" - On an Arlington County sign, I place the three most talked about products. Everything is a little askew and the sign is not perfectly straight on the sign. Life is not straight, but a little off right now.
Gregory Luce, "Morning Report: 2 April 2020" - Like most Arlingtonians, I have been limiting my time outside to walking the dog and necessary trips for food and other essentials. The mornings are much quieter these days and the songs and calls of birds have been especially uplifting in this challenging time.
Gwen Sampson, "Covid Cake" - Is it true that Covid-19 is killed in the intestinal tract? In that case "Die Covid, Die! I'm going to eat you!"
Jennifer Odlum, "Cherry Blossoms" - Peak bloom for the cherry blossoms coincided with an increasing need to practice social distancing. Instead of risking the crowds at the Tidal Basin, I visited Central Library where I was treated to a magnificent display.
Katherine Degroff, "Day 22" - My life in quarantine.
Laura DeMaria, "Daffodils Behind a Fence" - I have been taking many walks and photographing the flowers I see in my neighborhood. These daffodils looking out on the world from behind their fence reminded me of all of us in quarantine.
Devin Boyle, "Keeping On" - I wrote a poem to express what's keeping me going. It's you, it's me, it's us. What gets me though is knowing that we're in this together, to help us get through. Thank you for putting this project together. It's quite heartwarming.
Barry Dunn, "Cabin Fever" - Looking through the bars of the prison.
Winifred Scheffler, "Untitled" - With time on my hands, I've been doing a little drawing and watercolor painting. This was an attempt to turn one of my photos into a painting.
Alanna Rivera, "Potomac River Sunset" - This 11x14” acrylic painting is based on a sunset photo taken by a friend on his sailboat while sailing on the Potomac before the Stay-at-home order. It reminds me to treasure the freedom we still have to explore in nature.
Ruth Compton, "And Still: Spring" - In the midst of this horror, there are still signs of spring, of hope.
Amari Eaglin, "Wake Me Up When Corona Ends" -Portrait of a young woman in physical isolation watching tv and waiting for Corona to end.
Betty Perfall, "Painted River Rocks" -These are painted river rocks from Arlington, Va.
Diane Kresh, "Grieving in a Time of COVID19" - Yesterday was a tough day. Writing these few lines helped a bit.
The next deadline for submissions to Quaranzine is Thursday, April 16
This is really lovely and an excellent way to bring our community together through our shared love of art and ideas. Thank you for publishing my poem.
I enjoyed the selections very much and the artworks a a real joy to see. I particularly liked Devin Boyle’s poem.
Such a pleasure to do the painting, photos, poems, comments, chalk sidewalk art! Thank you!
Love all these submissions! Thanks to everyone for sharing. I have a special place in my heart for the following:
“Coronavirus and Allergies,” by Erika Johnson (as a fellow sufferer)
“Corona Spring” by Maribeth Egan
“Gator Eye” by Ali Coyle
“And Still: Spring” by Ruth Compton
“Inside Home” by Brooke Stoneman
“Wake Me Up When Corona Ends” by Amari Eaglin (you nailed the feeling of isolation!)
But that Covid Cake by Gwen Sampson? Fantastic! Talk about empowerment. Eat it with joy and thanks for sharing. 🙂
If your work is not considered for one week, is it possible that it could be considered for another issue?
Stephen,
Yes, we have moved to a rolling submission model based on the number of submissions we have been receiving – over 80 last week – so it is quite possible that your work will appear in a future edition of Quaranzine.
That cake is amazing!