Link 1: "Making 500 Masks and Counting…"​ submitted by Adele Traub

 

Link 1: "Making 500 Masks and Counting…"​ submitted by Adele Traub


 

Link 2: Birds feeding soul, photograph, submitted by Miranda Bocko

 

Link 2: Birds feeding soul, photograph, submitted by Miranda Bocko

​Artist Reflection:  Inspired by the preceding artist's statement of mask making I wanted to honor the connections and freedom mask wearing allowed me to experience. This image is from an outing at Massachusetts Audubon, a day filled with joy spent with a dear friend. The chickadees were hungry and happy to land on our hands and eat the bird seed.


 

Link 3: We all have mountains, fused glass submitted by Sasha Kopp

 

Link 3: We all have mountains, fused glass submitted by Sasha Kopp

Artist Reflection: When looking at Birds feeding Soul, I was taken by the display of empathy between human and animal. There was a care and a sense of protection that was felt though examining the photograph. It immediately reminded me of this small bug which I had recently seen. Connecting to nature helps me feel both so powerful and so powerless. I seek to use power to protect and care for others and to let each of us have the opportunity to thrive no matter the mountains we are climbing.


 

Link 4: Bridges, poem submitted by Mary Agner

 

Link 4: Bridges, poem submitted by Mary Alexandra Agner

Artist Reflection: I was struck by how different the ant was visually from the remainder of the piece and how a lone ant was unusual. Thinking about the ant in the context of the art chain (empathy), I realized I wanted to write something showing even that seemingly singular ant was not alone.


 
 

Link 5: Bridge, ink on paper submitted by Katya P.

Artist Reflection: The poem Bridges is about the immense power of bridges. Their "bodily" presence against gravity, across the open "limitless" space... I wanted this to come across in my drawing through the use of ink and composition. Along with the poet, I feel compassion towards this brave gesture, the courage to stand "alone."


 

Link 6: “Traversing the chasm to reach you” submitted by Doug Holder

 

Link 6: “Traversing the chasm to reach you” submitted by Doug Holder

​Artist Reflection: I thought of the bridge (excuse the cliche) as a " bridge over troubled waters." In my case, my wife is suffering from stage 4 ovarian cancer, and when we hold hands we create that bridge-- that connection, in our relationship.


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.