Existing comment:
MICHAEL JANIS
How We Take Care of Each Other
Glass, glass powder imagery, varies
60 x 48 in.
Courtesy of the artist
ARTIST STATEMENT
What epitomizes the height of this pandemic? Emptiness. It's embodied in the unusual quiet in normally noisy, bustling neighborhoods. Silence -- not merely the absence of noise, but also the inescapable presence of judgment, longing, and paranoia.
Some of the glass circular panels touch on subjects of how the virus is transmitted, and on how COVID-19 cases are heavily concentrated in the African American population. The imagery in the panels is created by manipulating and fusing finely crushed glass powder, or frit -- the sgraffito technique.
Social isolation may be the best tool to keep the virus under control, but this clashes directly with our need for social connections, which help us resolve anger and rage while we are at the mercy of injustice and uncertainty. In these conflicts, we need to remind ourselves that rants and accusations will not move us forward; compassion, empathy, and recognition that we are all in this horrible situation together will inspire us. |