Link 1: "Listening" submitted by Anna Schachter
Link 2: The Listening Heart, digital drawing, submitted by Michele Simos
Artist Reflection: To me, Listening is love. It is one of the ultimate acts of giving of yourself to understand someone else. Giving them the space to speak their truth and to be heard is sacred. Deep listening takes time. It takes energy. And, it requires patience, It is an unselfish act that creates a safe space for someone to share a part of themselves. Listening connects you to someone and holds the potential to deepen the relationship. It costs nothing and means everything.
Link 3: Into the Void, graphite on paper submitted by Amy Weiss
Artist Reflection: Something about the digital image I was sent reminded me of echoes. Everyone feels so far away right now, so I drew myself calling out to my friends across the void of Facetime and Zoom.
Link 4: Breath and Voice, vocal improvisation submitted by Yoni Battat
Artist Reflection: For me, "Into the Void" evokes the experience of sending vibrations out into the world and wondering where they'll go. Will they echo back? Will the words be the same in the echo as they were in the original call? How do these vibrations allow us to express ourselves? Who do we allow to witness our breath and our voice?
Link 5: Ayeka, dance submitted by Julie Leavitt
Artist Reflection: Whose voice is it that comes through the silence? How many voices are there? Who do I listen to? Is it the wind? Is it G-d? Where are You? Where am I? Here I am. Here I am. Here I am. I was so moved by the soundtrack. It took me internal and external at once. Seeking and yearning, lost and found.
Link 6: “You Breathed” submitted by Charlie S.
Artist Reflection: For me, the movement of the dance immediately brought to mind a prayer of gratitude for breath that I recite every morning. It is an acknowledgment that our ability to breath is both miraculous and finite, returning to the Creator at the end of our lives.
Note: This chain was started with a submitted community response to the prompt: How have you cared for others or how others have cared for you during these challenging times? The artists did NOT see the reflections written by the previous artist, only the image of the work and the title. The reflections were revealed only when the chain was complete. The six links in the chain are intended to offer a creative way to connect and offset the six feet of physical distance we need to keep from each other in order to care for each other.
Feeling inspired? Create your own artistic response to this chain and share on instagram #translationsart.