community mural 10.22.2020

In August of this year, I learned about a collective, community mural to be displayed on the University of Wisconsin campus here in Madison. Any community member could participate in this socially distanced art event, called “Threads of Hope.” One could use any media they wanted, as long as it fit on an 8×8 inch piece of masonite that would be displayed vertically. I signed right up! A week later, I received the board and instructions in the mail – to create something which poetically represented one or more of the following:

• What is something you hope for?
• What could society look like?
• What would make you or someone else smile?
• What makes you feel balanced, or inspired, or proud, or safe?
• What do you want to work toward?

What I hope for is to see and touch and feel and breathe in my daughters Elly and Berit again. That would make me smile. They help me feel balanced, inspired, proud and safe. I want to work toward being with them once again. They both live in Denver, Colorado – just under one thousand miles away from me. Due to COVID, and because I’m working to keep myself and my husband as safe and as healthy as possible, seeing my daughters is not an option. I hope next year, either with the virus waning or a vaccine available, that I’ll be able to be with them.

Here’s the photo I used for inspiration and the 8×8 masonite board. Each time I visit Berit and Elly in Colorado, they take me on a new hike in the mountains. It’s clear how happy I am!

I used a bit of white oil pastel on the board, then outlined the image.

It’s almost done. You can see the media I use here – oil pastels and wax pencil.

And here’s the final piece. I gave it a coat of gloss medium, then a coat of wax medium to protect the surface.

I wrapped the painting safely and dropped it off on campus. They provided a socially-distant plastic tub in a university parking ramp for drop-off.

The mural is on display in the window of the Ruth Davis Design Gallery on UW campus through November 13th. It’s also viewable online. This might be the only art event I’m able to participate in this year, and I’m delighted to be part of this community mural:)

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