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Welcome to "quARanTine: Wilson SD Faculty & Staff" virtual exhibit! To say the least, 2020 has been a rough year and we want to embrace it! We asked the talented current and former employees of Wilson School District to share their creations made during quarantine and to speak about their inspirations. These works and their inspirations share many themes. These themes are as universal as the experiences we face together during this pandemic. This collection of work is a reminder to stay strong, healthy, and creative.
Art is expression. Art is therapeutic. Art is love. #GrandviewGallery #quARanTineWSD |
"Made with Love" by Theresa Adams.
“The masks are made with love for my healthcare community and because I stored them in this homemade wooden tray that my daughter made for me.” 
"Scatter Hope" by Tina Boucher.
"During the initial quarantine in the Spring of 2020 I was feeling pretty hopeless trying to balance my husband and I both teaching from home, caring for our 4 year old, and finding enough time to sleep. Finding a creative outlet has always been a stress reliever for me, and this painting was inspired by a quote by Helen Walton; "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you've lived." 
"Lake Nights" by Michele Cambardella.
"Whether it is bright or muted, I find the color of water and sky particularly compelling. Often, when we really look at the colors of an object, It is surprising. Things are often not as we expect them to be." 
"The Flash" by Chris Carr.
"I LOVE superheroes! I have been drawing them since I was a little kid. You could say that they taught me to draw. I honestly draw them to keep from getting rusty and because they interest me and are challenging. I love to add my own touches like interesting backgrounds or multiple characters in the same frame. The act of drawing these characters really helped keep me from losing my mind during quarantine! I am grateful to have the skill to express myself in this way and I am inspired by so many other artists as their ideas and skills help to push me to be my best!" 
"An Upside Down World" by Robert H. Chappel.
"I was prompted to create an "artwork" by former students Jeffrey Stumhofer and Zach Kreider. The coronavirus greatly affected me, as it did others. Being confined to my condo allowed me to do things I don't always do, and it provided me an ideal opportunity to create visually how I felt using objects in my home that are near and dear to me. It was time to look at them differently, and to allow them to reflect the confusion and frustration that the virus causes. Unfortunately, those feelings continue. I have no idea how I would approach teaching in such troubled times. My heart goes out to teachers, parents, and students, and all who struggle to survive in these troubled time. Peace" |
"Untitled #4" by Robert Early.
“This photograph is from a series documenting life during the quarantine. My wife and I had just moved from a house into an apartment early April, so my intentions were to capture the duality of the comfort and claustrophobia we felt as we sheltered in our new home.” 
"Lincoln" by Betsy Fick.
"After a long five months, our family took our quarantine game on the road and rented a house in Ocean Pines, MD. This photo was taken one evening as we enjoyed the sand on Assateague Island. Our toddler, Lincoln, was in his glory playing in the sand, blissfully unaware of the circumstances that the past summer was wrapped in. The simple happiness he found digging and burying his legs in the sand was a reminder that joy can be found no matter what is going on around us!" 
"Father, Friend, & Mentor" by Brain Foreman.
Glenn, my father in law, was an angel among men. He was a family man, living by the mantra, “Family first, always”. He taught me many great skills in life, the most important being patience. Glenn could sit for hours by a stream, on a boat or just hang on his porch/deck and tell you about any number of things. His zeal for life was inspiring. Though an, “old Dutchman” as he labeled himself, Glenn would spare any minute he could to help a family member or friend in need. He raised two wonderful daughters and was a happily married husband for the duration of his time on earth. Glenn worked as anyone from his generation did; timelessly making sure his family was taken care of. This drawing is about that spark in his eye, the Glenn that lived and shared his time with me. Time, that being the most valued item in life. Once gone, we never are able to get it back and Glenn made sure to spend his time wisely enjoying himself and sharing his love for all things NASCAR, fishing and grilling with me. He gave me unconditional love and to me, that is the most valuable thing I could have received from him. Glenn, however, battled a demon his later years in life. Alcoholism took control overshadowed the man I knew and grew to love. Alcoholism, a fatal disease when left untreated, and sadly Glenn never got that chance to find a way out. His family and friends saw it, as did I, slowly wearing him down, taking away that spark and forecasting its dark head over him. I can only wonder what his grandfather years would be like had he sought help before it was too late. The disease of alcoholism/addiction is a family annihilator. It will tear through like a hurricane destroying all in its path until arrested somehow. There is hope and this drawing is to express that, hope. To shed light on a topic that most want to ignore, let alone feel like there’s anything they can do to help. If you know someone struggling with the disease of addiction, let them know you still love them and seek help from those trained or experienced in dealing with addiction. No one need die from this disease, not one single solitary soul. I can personally attest to the blessings one will receive from a life in recovery. 
"Oliver's Sojourn" by Joanne Kosloski.
"I loved my grandson's pensive look." |
"Henryk" by Erica Parzych.
"I recently became a mother to a beautiful baby boy; Henryk, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Becoming a new mother is an experience you can’t put into words. My favorite thing to do as an artist is to attempt to illustrate emotions I struggle describing to others. So naturally, I was interested in expressing my emotions in this new journey as a new parent. The Pandemic has caused me and so many other immense anxiety. Art has always been very therapeutic to me, so I decided to focus on the blessings Motherhood has brought me instead of the difficult time we are currently living in." 
"Garden Triptych" by Linda Kutz Reed.
"Gardening has been such a positive activity for me to do during the pandemic! Every day there was growth and change to enjoy! As I harvested the vegetables, I chronicled the progression through photography. I enjoyed being creative in arranging everything in the most eye-pleasing way before taking the photograph and then I posted my pictures on Facebook and Instagram. I was so surprised to read comments like "I look forward to these photos. Thanks for posting." I hope these photos will bring you joy!" 
"Dog Portrait" by Lorijean Wallence.
"I have been a forever animal lover and usually feed my creativity by painting portraits of pets owned by my family and friends. I find when I am capturing the personality of the animal in my work, I am making a personal connection. I can see the joy in the photos and all the special memories that makes this pet so special. Many paintings that I have created are also representing pets that have passed on. In these paintings, I especially try to capture the most important elements and sparkle of life that the pet shared here on earth with their best friends and family. It is always my honor to create a perfected representation that serves as a beautiful memory to keep for a lifetime. The painting I am including is actually the second pet portrait that I have created for my colleague and friend, Jeremy Platchek. The painting is representing his sweet Airedale Terrier, Zena, who had passed on in the Spring of 2020. He told me the news in June and asked me to create another meaningful portrait memory for them. I am hoping that this painting brings his family happiness and allows them to keep the memory of Zena close to their heart for many years to follow." 
"Sliding Glass Door Mural" by Rachel Weidenhammer.
"My husband and I created this mural with our 4.5 year old son at the start of the pandemic. We, at the time, we were just looking for something creative to occupy him for an hour or two. But what we ended up creating together with just washable paint and painters tape, was a daily reminder to see the light even in dark times. As J.K. Rowling wrote in her popular series, Harry Potter, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” May we always be reminded to see the bright side even in dark times." |
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Located in Wilson High Schools Administration Building. No images may be reproduced or used with out consent from their owner Grandview Gallery.
