June 22: A Wider Focus
For our newest issue of Quaranzine, we had called for art and media that promote social justice, inclusion, racial equity, and accountability. But upon further reflection, work that addresses the work of antiracism can't be designated to a "special issue." We hope and expect that our community response to these issues will be ongoing, and we will continue to accept work on the topic of anti-racism for as long as Quaranzine runs.
Megan Wianecki, "Kids Protest" - This photo was taken on Wilson Blvd on 6/8/20. It shows a group of children from the Lyon Village neighborhood who wanted to protest locally.
Angelina Jones, "Azalea" - This spring I wanted to be sure to pay extra attention to all of the blooms around my neighborhood through a series of drawings. This pen and ink drawing is taken from this set of sketches.
Melissa Grant, "Zucchini Roll-ups Recipe" - With spending a lot of time at home, it has allowed for many days of cooking and experimenting with baking. (I have a record for not being a good baker, but I've been succeeding lately!) I FINALLY started a blog after years of thinking about it. It's called faithful foodee! My cooking focuses on making simple meals with items found in the home and food scraps! This recipe can also be found on there at https://faithfulfoodee.wixsite.com/faithfulfoodee. It's an easy way to incorporate more veggies into a low-carb meal.
Michael Green, "Sometimes You Need a Hug" - This is a difficult time, there is civil unrest, and we are physically isolated from one another. Sometimes you just need a hug to get though, even if you are giving it to yourself.
Ruth Compton, "Why We Protest" - To be anti-racist means to fight against racist policy and to protest alongside those who are discriminated against.
Liz Laribee, "I Will Not Have my Life Narrowed (or, bell hooks)" - Watercolor and pen on a page ripped from a damaged book.
Angela Maray, "Time" - 20 x 30” Acrylic on Canvas. This is my first painting, and the first comment I received about it was, “next time, try to do something more positive.” While I completely understood the viewer’s point, my frustration quietly compounded as I felt the understanding wasn’t reciprocated. What I hoped would be a connection, was instead a separation. Suspicions of being devalued were confirmed. This was not a matter of feelings, but a matter of fact.
Kathleen Moore, "Green Valley Rally for George Floyd" - A peaceful rally, from Green Valley to Johnson Hill in memory of George Floyd and against gun violence.
Melanie Cameron, "Let Go" - Family craft project. Over 4-5 evenings, this project gave everyone in our family time away from the computer and time to spend together creating and collaborating. Each of us created a similar piece - a square-shaped, framed, mixed media collage. This is mine. While they can stand alone, all together they make one cohesive piece.
Jenny Tato, "No Justice No Peace" - I'm a freelance illustrator and comic book artist who believes strongly that black lives matter! I created this piece as a fundraiser for the BLM and for George Floyd.
Melissa Grant, "Yellow" - This feel good poem is about the color yellow (my favorite color!) and what it reminds me of. I thought it would be nice to share with other Arlingtonians to also think of positive, happy things during this time.
David Moss, "Quincy Park COVID-19 Dusk" - A picture of the quiet emptiness and beauty of Arlington's Quincy Park at dusk. It is normally Arlington's busiest park, but not one person is seen in this picture I took on May 12 around 8 pm.
Peg Owen & Tom Rapp, "Almost No Knead Bread Recipe" - Since we've been under the stay at home order, my husband has been baking bread practically every week. He found an "almost" no knead bread recipe online that he adapted and tweaked to make his own, which has been a delicious diversion during isolation.
Jay Shah, "Rising in the Face of Adversity" - When I created this collage, I was inspired by the lyrics of a song by Andra Day, “And I’ll rise up, I’ll rise like the day, I’ll rise up, I’ll rise unafraid, I’ll rise up, and I’ll do it a thousand times again." To me, the combination of the tiger and butterflies symbolizes the human spirit, and how they overcome challenges. The tiger is strong and brave, and the butterfly will keep going, rising higher and higher. With the Black Lives Matter movement going on, I feel that many are looking in the face of adversity, and trying to overcome these challenges.
Emily Shorin, "Inspired Again" - Painted while watching the 3-hour live feed of the Falcon 9/Crew Dragon launch with Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.
Janet Elman, "Say Their Names" - I snapped this picture of my daughter working on a protest sign; she worked for 6 hours etching their names. After a day of protesting on the streets of DC with her sister, she came home with heat exhaustion, dehydration, and blisters, but still carrying the sign. (Pictured: Julia Elman, Washington Liberty HS class of 2019, Princeton University class of 2023)
Carolynn Kane, "Contemplation" - Black Lives Matter Plaza. A message on a barrier designed to keep people out, but this brings people in.
Theresa Flynn, "The Stranger Beside You" - I was in Clarendon picking up some takeout food, and had an animated conversation with a frustrated guy who "just wanted the restaurants to open." He was lonely and that translated with a kind of scattershot anger at those around him. Watching the people on the street, some with masks, some not, I imagined each of their stories. The reactions I wrote down became this poem.
The next deadline for submissions to Quaranzine is Thursday, July 2.
Please tell Angela Maray that when I first scrolled down on her painting, I gasped—-it is so wonderful!
And your first painting? You would be witholding your art because of one comment if you don’t make a second, third—-or keep creating in another medium.
Thanks to you and other artists—-so enjoyed the contributions.
Angela – your work thrilled me. Keep on creating.