Escape self-isolation through creative expression
It’s been a month since my family and I started living the new reality of self-isolation and social distancing. Prior to this new normal, plans had been made and schedules confirmed. I was wrapping up the loose ends of my tenure as the curator/manager of the AFA Travelling Exhibition Program at TREX Space. I was about to embark on a new adventure as the Curator of Art at the Esplanade Art & Heritage Centre.
On March 13, I listened to the CBC program ‘As It Happens.’ An Italian doctor who had been living in selfisolation with his wife and three children, all of whom had COVID-19, described life in Italy: the anxiety, the fear, the unknown. He also described the isolation as “close family time” and spoke about his family’s daily activities and rituals. It all seemed so crazy to me. I was somewhat naïve in not understanding the same thing could happen here.
I had no idea everything about how we navigate our day-to-day lives was about to change.
For many years, I was a studio artist spending an immense amount of time by myself, seeing only a few people a day. Many artists work in solitude for periods of time, creating. Last year, I spent most of my days working alone in TREX Space. I’ve adapted to working alone. That said, this new way of life has been challenging. I have worries and fears regarding the health of my family— feelings that are only escalated by anxiety-fueled news broadcasts and articles. To combat these feelings, I reframe my thoughts and remember why I’m grateful.
The past month has allowed me to slow down, spend time with my family, and focus on self-care practices. It has been a juggling act: work, homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, baking, crafting, laughing, singing, puppet making, bike riding, walking, jogging, yoga, reading, and retro movies. These are just a selection of activities my family and I have immersed ourselves in.
I’ve learned so much from this new normal. The fast pace of our life was exhausting. We’ve now found balance in our daily lives and, ironically, are living in a healthier way. The times I’ve cherished the most have been with my son. We often engage in creative endeavours together: construction-paper cutouts, sock puppets, exquisite-corpse drawings, clay sculptures, and watercolour paintings, to name a few. He’s usually the one to come up with an idea, but I’ve also relied on the many artists and art institutions I follow on Instagram.
With TREX Space and the Esplanade being closed to the public, Esplanade staff have been hard at work creating a plethora of cultural content for our community. This content — which will be made available online — includes easy-to-accomplish visual-art projects from TREX exhibition catalogues. The projects were created by art educators and include step-by-step pictures and instructions.
What these projects offer above all else is an opportunity to escape fearful thoughts. They take you to a place of freedom and expression—a place where you might even release your inhibitions. So if you’ve already played Monopoly a hundred times and your bread didn’t rise, go ahead and be creative. There’s no wrong way to do it.
Art is subjective and extraordinary.
Online: https://www.cbc.ca/ listen/live-radio/1-2-as-ithappens/ Xanthe Isbister is the Curator of Art at Esplanade Art & Heritage Centre.