Up Close and Far Away

Brandt has a painting class this semester. Doing painting remotely hasn't really been possible, but he has had a variety of art projects to complete each week. This week's project related to coronavirus and is titled Up Close and Far Away. Springville Art Museum made a call for school aged students to respond to their experience with Covid-19. This is what they said:

Life as we know it has been put on hold. Many of us feel far away from the comfort and security of our regular routines — we’re up close to a new normal. We are all united in this unexpected opportunity to examine the aspects of our lives that we are distanced from and closer to. Up Close and Far Away invites Utah K-12 students to reflect on their own experiences, activities, and commitments while looking closer at relationships, places, and things in their current spaces.  As today’s challenging circumstances shape our worldviews, we can also look forward with hope to the future.

Brandt's art teacher had the students respond to this invitation. They could submit their work to the museum or not, it was up to them. She also asked them for some written explanation of their work. Brandt chose to do a self-portrait photograph, and chose not to submit it to the museum. He wrote about how he is far more frequently online now that we are living in a Covid society. He does his schoolwork online, and he connects with people more online than he did before. He likes to be able to meet his friends as he plays with them on video platforms. And he certainly likes to play video games online.

From my perspective, being home all day and being plugged in all day isn't really healthy for one's mental health, but it wasn't my art assignment, so I'll leave the interpretation to Brandt.

I looked at the "exhibit" on the Springville Museum of Art website. I think it's too bad Brandt didn't submit his entry.