Link 1: "Play" submitted by Susannah H.
Link 2: Connect with Joy, acrylic and collage on canvas, submitted by Meredith Griffiths
Artist Reflection: I found inspiration for this piece in the people, places, and things that encourage and engage us in play. Play invites us to connect with others or our environment in joyous ways, just as it allows us to experience and connect with our own inner joy. By participating in Translations I hoped to revive my artist/art therapist self, which has gotten a bit lost during the pandemic. Receiving the word play was the perfect reminder of how to do so.
Link 3: Waves of Feeling, Acrylic & Paint Markers on Wood, submitted by Sara Roizen
Artist Reflection: While Looking at the piece Connect With Joy, I was immediately moved by feelings of energy and vitality. I sensed a deep resonance between the two people and nature and felt a spark of joy when thinking about all of the extra time I have spent in nature with my family, especially during this pandemic. The waves of feeling we have all experienced during these times are a common thread. Each mandala in this series contains a unique pattern to symbolize a different wave of feeling. Each mandala was made separately, to create space for each feeling. However the waves flow from one mandala to the next when arranged together, and form a connecting emotional bridge.
Link 4: Tears Pass, Nature print (with ink and wood), paper & thread submitted by Amy McGregor-Radin
Artist Reflection: The undulating tracings from Waves of Feeling brought my own direct wood prints to mind and echoed how I feel about emotional ups and downs. I believe that my own personal experiences with sadness and tears helps me be more understanding of others.
Link 5: Tears Nourish Wood, Analine Dyes on Natural Chicken Eggshells (Pysanky)
submitted by Julia T.
Artist Reflection: The wood pattern of the previous submission led me to think of water needed to keep wood alive, and less flammable. Tears are part of healing and recovery, even for the caregiver. Caregivers often have to be stoic, unemotional, or objective to cope with their duties. They also need room and time to cry and recover, and heal from the act of healing, especially when attempts fail. My initial design was more literal, with a drop-crown on a rippling water surface, and leaves overhead. I even attempted to spell out, in Morse code, Tears Nourish Wood. The following design was more stylized, to better resemble traditional designs of the medium.
Link 6: “Too many reasons for tears” submitted by Joey Baron
Artist Reflection: Tears Nourish Wood reminded that there are far too many reasons to shed tears. Being part of this definitely aroused my curiosity, especially since I was the final contributor in the chain. I SOOOOOOOO wanted to know what all of the pieces were like, thinking it could inspire me to write something meaningful. But the excitement of this, I realized, is that I didn’t know. It also got me to re-read one of my kids’ favorite stories, Tear Water Tea from Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel.
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.