Quaranzine: Issue 4

John Boal, "Quarantine Yoga" - Eva Boal, 8, finishes her yoga workout at home on her first day of "spring break", while quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday, April 6, 2020. Schools were closed for the year several weeks ago, and since then, her school has been scheduling daily video calls with her teacher and classmates. Monday was the first day of Spring Break where there were no video calls and classwork, so she decided to try a yoga session in the living room.

Julian Plamann, "Seize the Day" - Using this extra time to make some punny cross-stitch art for my friends. (Cross-stitch pattern by Etsy artist CraftTimeinArkham)

Colton Gibbons, "Quarantine Life" - Quarantine Life: a Haiku capturing a major “mood” during the pandemic of 2020. I believe my work is relatable to any student regardless of grade, university, graduate or doctoral level, any worker who has switched to remote work, and most young adults living through COVID-19.

Emily Patton, "From Higher Ground" - From Higher Ground is an acrylic and oil based painting on gesso board. Designed to help us remember that a little change in perspective can have a big impact on our view of things.

Glenn Mai, "Blossom Starburst" - What's a wildlife photographer to do when there's a stay at home order? Take photos from their front porch, of course. Lucky there's a cherry blossom tree in the front yard, and early in the morning the sun peeks through the branches and flowers. To get a "starburst" set your camera to the "A" setting (Aperture priority), set the aperture (or F-Stop) to F-18 or F-22, and compose your photo so that the sun is just peeking around the corner of your subject. This will create the "starburst effect" in your shot.

Helen Yu, "Like Lemondrops" - I listened to a webinar by Dr. Fred Luskin, Director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects and author of "Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness." He said that in these times, we need to focus on internal safety as much as we focus on external safety -- the feeling of psychological calm in all this weirdness, and sustained compassion for the other humans going through this with us. Our external safety is staying 6 feet apart from people and washing our hands. My internal safety is sitting on the grass near the US Marine Corps War Memorial and playing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on my ukulele. What's yours?

Kerry Greco, "It's Cool to Stay Inside" - During my time at home, I have been trying to draw something everyday! Right now I have been loving bold, blocky typography. I took this as an opportunity to remind myself that it's cool to stay inside and safe -- even if sometimes it can seem like a bummer.

Miguel Martinez, "Social Polaroids" - Last week I came up with a way to document what’s happening around us. I started contacting friends to send me a picture of themselves in the spot they are spending the most time in during this quarantine. Along with the picture I asked them to write a short paragraph about what this quarantine means to them. Or if they didn’t want to write a short paragraph, I asked them to give me 10 words that describes what they are feeling right now. I then added my own twist to the photos and words to create one-of-a-kind images. (www.socialpolaroids.com)

Ruebeline Reuben, "Tiger Self Care" - After hearing the news of the the Bronx Zoo Tigers catching COVID-19, I thought I'd raise awareness on Tiger self-care.

Amanda Shaffer, "Wood Nymph" - I’ve been using much of my extra time to learn digital illustration, as well as creating fanciful, peaceful scenes that are an escape from everything that’s going on right now.

Kate Pernia, "Spring Dreams" - Mini pagoda cocktail hat, made of wired buckram covered with cotton fabrics and stone beads affixed with covered wire spring at back of head.

Olga Berman, "Vegan Overnight Oats" - More recipe ideas on Mango & Tomato blog www.mangotomato.com

Katrina Kubik, "Thank You" - “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” (Fred Rogers)

Herlinda Hernandez, "Keep the Gates Closed" - In this time of quarantine and self-isolation, this sign on the fence and emptiness of the lot embodies our emotions; to keep the gate closed and the doors of our homes closed, all for the best for the health of our nation and community.

Krupali Koyani, "Coronavirus Awareness" - Everyone should wear a mask when they go outside or in public area.

Leila Drici, "Cow Chairs" - Upcycled hand painted chairs. Our building is in the middle of a mass move out. My place of business has closed so I'm selling artwork and upcycled furniture to make money until we can return to work.

Paulina Valanty, "Theater Portrait" - Actor Clark Gregg in the play The Christopher Boy's Communion, drawn while in isolation. I spent approximately 40 hours over 3 weeks drawing it. Shading all those details kept me (somewhat) sane!

Lori Kresse, "Muffling the Scream" - I painted a watercolor version of Edvard Munch's "The Scream" because this iconic painting expresses the kind of anxiety I've been feeling on and off during this pandemic. I made a little mask for the anguished figure to wear, hoping it will make the image less frightening. Covering up the screaming mouth did help! I also omitted one of the figures in the background to show proper social distancing. Creating art during such a time does help to ease overall worries.

Mark Charette, "Daffodil Blade" - Daffodils have played out, but their slender leaves make an interesting subject for ""macro"" lens. Azalea bush has begun to bloom in the background.

Michelle Goldchain, "Floating" - I hope to communicate how this uncertain time can feel like a mixture of claustrophobia and confused, endless floating.

Sydney Arvanitas, "Lonely Spring" - The past month in quarantine has reminded me a lot of a lonely hiking trip I took a few years ago. The days are long and sometimes this period of isolation feels like it will never end. The funny thing is, when I think back on that hiking trip, it's harder now to remember the times I felt lonely and bored. Mostly what I remember is how beautiful the springtime was and how vibrantly the flowers bloomed. I remember how grateful I was to be able to walk and admire the world and be quiet and still. I hope I can one day look back on this spring and feel the same.

Tanner Call, "An Explosion of Spring" - In the midst of such difficult times, I wanted to create a piece that reflected the hope and beauty of spring, of the natural world opening up and coming to life once more. This piece is meant to capture the colors and hope of spring while also highlighting the structures in which we must contain ourselves and the coronavirus that is currently in the air.

Theresa Flynn, "Spring Reflections" - Been doing a lot of walking, of course, these days. Took a bunch of pictures of blossoming trees and buttercup-filled patches of grass, but this sight, of the barren trees reflected on the water of Four Mile Run, was more like my mood of late. Quiet, soft, thinking, waiting.

Rose Espinola, "Matzo Chilaquiles" - Chilaquiles are tortilla scraps that are toasted and then softened in simmering salsa. My first memory of chilaquiles with my Mexican family was thinking… This tastes like matzo brei I eat with my Jewish family! Matzo brei is broken matzo pieces, softened in hot water, dipped in egg and fried. For passover this year, I made Matzo Chilaquiles.

Mentwab Easwaran, "Living in Harmony" - This painting is to make us aware how close to nature we are, and how living in harmony can bring beauty into our lives. We can live seamlessly with other animals, and most importantly how we can respect earth as we are the reason why COVID-19 is here.

Sichu Mali, "Shinrin-Yoku" - I am learning to stay calm and carry on by exploring Shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing” in Japanese). Shinrin-yoku is the therapeutic act of spending time in forest to let nature rejuvenate you. It is a simple antidote to the complexities of modern-day life. As I breathe in the fresh air and walk past deer, fox, mallards, bluebells, and daffodils in the woods, stress just melts away.