Figures
& Faces
COVID PORTRAIT SERIES
To turn potential despondency to momentary distraction for neighbors,
I started to create 1-hour pastel chalk portraits of them
A translucent painted mask was then superimposed onto some of the faces, to commemorate this unique time. Several neighbors were game- one each day for 2 weeks. View these fun portraits in the gallery below.
The quick back-story
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 shelter-in-place orders, 25 or so of my neighboring households have been participating in what is called “The Five O’clock Wave’'. We come outside of our homes waving, to check on one another and for social connection. Several of the neighbors are elderly, some have ‘infirmities’, some have babies, many have dogs...
Nearly every single day since March 19th, 2020, beginning at 5 p.m., neighbors have put on masks, and have gone out into driveways or onto the street to greet one another from a 'safe' social distance.
Amazing evolution
Well over 17 months in now, this simple ‘Wave’ has long-since evolved into about an hour of almost daily chatting in well-spaced groups of <10 people from around the blocks, learning more about our neighbors -sharing thoughts, humor, stresses, needs, and celebrating occasions.
The sequel
Our collective creative experience is about an inimitable circumstance, and about a unique neighborhood. And now it's also become an art product. This collection of portraits evolved into a singular 6’ X 6’ construction titled: “1-Hour Pastel Chalk Portraits of Close Neighbors, Painted 6’ Apart, With Masks Added”. Check out this project on the "Neighbors in Masks Project" page.
Public interest story
The story of our neighbors choosing to build camaraderie over isolation in this way, was picked up by a local newspaper. See photos of the neighbors gathering, the evolution of a large artwork and news story narrative by Diane Andrews here.
