Link 1: "Spread Hope & Positivity"​ submitted by Joelle Tomb

 

Link 1: "Spread Hope & Positivity"​ submitted by Joelle Tomb

 

Link 2: In all directions, watercolor and ink pen on paper submitted by Jessica Beck

 

Link 2: In All Directions, watercolor and ink pen on paper submitted by Jessica Beck

​Artist Reflection: Even in the harshness of a city, nature finds a way to spread roots and persevere. Spreading hope and positive energy, in the face of adversity and uncertainty, begins with planting even the smallest of seeds and seeing where its roots and vines will lead.

 

Link 3: At the Center, Hand-drawn machine cut papercut on watercolor paper by Laura Conrad Mandel, finger paint on water watercolor paper by her daughter, Hazel Mandel

 

Link 3: At the Center, Hand-drawn machine cut papercut on watercolor paper by Laura Conrad Mandel, finger paint on water watercolor paper by her daughter, Hazel Mandel

​Artist Reflection: In All Directions first spoke to me as a beautiful mess of ivy. I had been looking at the beauty of the lines on the ivy for a few minutes when the words finally jumped out at me, so subtly and organically worked into the piece that I almost didn’t notice them! “At the Center” brings the hope and positivity to the center, while continuing to have the ivy go “in all directions” – because while we can’t control where or how the ivy grows, we can find beauty, hope, and positivity in it. As I struggled to find the right backing for this papercut, my 2 year old daughter Hazel’s freeform finger painting struck me as the perfect addition – what could be more hopeful and positive than the joyful mess and fingerprints of a two year old?

*This piece is dedicated to the late Donna Price, who was the most positive and hopeful, and the woman who got me the wholesale deal on the cameo that cut this piece.

 

Link 4: Hope, assemblage submitted by Maria Beatriz Arvelo

 

Link 4: Hope, assemblage submitted by Maria Beatriz Arvelo

Artist Reflection: At the Center talks about hope. I used to think that hope was a feeling, but now I believe it is a decision. Hope has been my key for introspection, reaching out, and finding energy to work towards a better way. On a walk during this pandemic, I had taken just a few steps along the path, and the Woods gave me a key. I wonder what is the story behind this key, and I wonder what is the story that lies ahead of hope.

 

Link 5: Connected, photograph submitted by Adriana Katzew

 

Link 5: Connected, photograph submitted by Adriana Katzew

Artist Reflection: I was inspired by the previous work's connection to nature, and by the key (what does it open?), so I decided I would go to nature to unlock my response to Hope. Shortly before that, I found out that a beloved friend had just lost her husband. We are so far from each other, and yet, at these moments we are still connected, no matter how many years it's been since we last spoke. Our connection runs deep through space, time, and distance.

 

Link 6: “A delicate bridge” submitted by Greg Smith

 

Link 6: “A delicate bridge” submitted by Greg Smith

​Artist Reflection: What I saw in the photograph was a link that was very fragile in its state. Although that bridge could be weakening, my first instinct was that it was strengthening.

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.