Link 1: "And sometimes you meet yourself back where you started, but stronger" - Yrsa Daley-Ward
​ submitted by Christine Frieze

Link 2: Finding Strength, watercolor submitted by Alison Judd

​Artist Reflection: My work in general, and lately, has been about memory and shift in memory. I often take a form and, working from stencils, place and shift the stencil using indirect processes (printmaking, or masking areas with drawing materials) create layer upon layer. I used the quote to continue the work I do in my studio practice, but focused on bringing the stencil form back to where it began the journey and adding dimension and space to create a stronger image than the first layer. By using the diptych, I kept a more simplistic first layer of the drawing to help convey the process that is sometimes lost in the final product. I loved working from that quote, especially given the current situation.

 
 

Link 3: Strength, natural assemblage submitted by Maria Beatriz Arvelo

​Artist Reflection: The watercolor Finding Strength spoke to me about the duality in which strength can reveal itself. The first panel reminds me that strength may be delicate and subtle; and the second panel evokes the strength to stand tall when darkness surrounds us. As a response, my piece balances the duality of the Yin and Yang (highlighted by the natural pattern found within the rock) on a piece of wood that represents strength and protection as it "guards" the delicate flowers below.

Link 4: After the Storm, ink and watercolor on paper submitted by John Lechner

Artist Reflection: I was inspired by the natural elements in the assemblage and their relationship to one another. (Is the rock weighing down the branch? Is the branch supporting the rock?) I decided to reimagine these elements in a different context, perhaps working together for their mutual survival.

Link 5: What Will We Take, poem submitted by Gavi Elkind

Artist Reflection: I was struck in this image by the tiny flowers blossoming from the side of the rock in the midst of the storm. Even the most fragile, delicate things -- love, patience, forgiveness, understanding -- can survive in untenable conditions. What will we remember most of this time? Will we be kinder, more attuned, more human for it? So much is lost in this storm. What will we gain in its aftermath?

Link 6: Bee, papercut submitted by Laura Mandel

​Artist Reflection: The line “The storm does not rage in perpetuity” called out to me as a perfect poster slogan for this moment. “Etched on the rock,” the physical divider between the chaos of the storm, the beauty we find in day to day life despite the storm, and what we all hope for on the other side- the slogan reminds us that this is all temporary. The bee in the top corner, like the dove in the story of Noah’s Ark, represents hope and a belief in what comes after this storm. And bees are core to the survival of the world.

Link 7: Be still and know that I am Love submitted by Caitlin Avery

​Artist Reflection: When I saw the word Bee was the title, I saw sunshine in the art, and I saw the hearts, all which inspired my ‘altered’ mantra. The mantra I typically use during challenging mental moments or simply to meditate on, is: be still and know that I am God, be still and know that I am, be still and know that I, and so on. I take away the last word each time, until I wind up with the word Be. Then I start over w/ the full sentence and repeat the process for as long as I need. It’s one of my favorites. When I teach that mantra to my clients (as a wellness professional) I tell them to use Love instead of God as the last word if they prefer- so I did that here responding to the hearts in this papercut.

Note: 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.

Feeling inspired? Create your own artistic response to this chain and share on instagram #translations2020.