Sky’s the limit in message of hope
ALTHOUGH the coronavirus pandemic has isolated individuals, communities and nations, two artists are giving people across the world the chance to connect through a virtual art work dubbed Solidarity Sky.
Devonport artist, sociologist and teacher Luke Conroy and Dutch artist Anne Fehres are an artist duo based in the Netherlands, and have been working together since 2016.
They have created a website where people can submit their personal images of the sky to be digitally stitched together with thousands of others of images contributed from all over the world.
Conroy and Fehres say they were inspired to create a work in response to the global coronavirus crisis.
“Our current situation is often determined by isolation and barriers,” Fehres said.
“In response, we hope Solidarity Sky can play a small role in strengthening togetherness and the sense of being part of a global community.”
Conroy said he was moved to inspire positivity despite anxiety about the future by a quote written by holocaust survivor Anne Frank more than 75 years ago.
The quotes reads: “I looked out the open window … over all the roofs to the horizon, which was so pale blue that the dividing line was not clearly visible. As long as this exists, I thought, and I may experience it, this sunshine, that sky to which there is no cloud, as long as this exists I cannot be sad.”
“With Solidarity Sky, we hope to build a virtual community by encouraging people around the world to take a moment to look up and share their views of the sky that unites us all,” Conroy said.
People are encouraged to take a simple photo of the sky with their phone and upload it to the website www.solidaritysky.com or by using the hashtag #solidaritysky on social media.
Conroy was a recipient of funding support through the Vita Brown Bequest Bursary last month to help purchase equipment or materials.