Art relies on four essential elements: time, energy, body, space.
Time? With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have plenty of time. Sometimes we even find ourselves wondering what to do in between our waking up and going to sleep.
Energy? If we can keep ourselves mentally and physically engaged, we can harness our energy towards meaningful tasks each day.
Body? Our senses remain with us. Our minds and bodies are at our service.
Space? We may have lost opportunities and options available outside the home, but we don’t lose everything.
For years, those involved in the arts and humanities have been moving right alongside the tide of the times: we have utilized technology in order to participate in new modes of creation and communication. What we are currently yearning for during this time of isolation is the human-to-human relationship that is born from physical collaboration so crucial to our field. When we lose our spaces to gather, think, create, or perform, we lack what we have unconsciously relied upon.
The Arts & Humanities Council has felt the impacts of our newly situated world and laments the canceled concerts, artist talks, exhibits, and performances we had planned for the Bloomington community. However, now—more than ever—is our chance to work towards finding new ways to connect intellectually and creatively. This blog can continue to be a way for our student interns to reflect on their experiences, share their thoughts, and connect with fellow Hoosiers.
For as long as we remain in this new state of living, let us take the moment to allow our thoughts to dance, or sing, or paint a landscape in this virtual space. Perhaps it will lead to a meaningful duet of thoughts and emotions with someone from afar…
To think, breath, and speak, is to create. So let’s keep creating conversation. There is a remarkable power in this form of art.
Beautiful. Thank you!
Thank you Megan. This is so lovely and so dance-centric. We still have our bodies, breath, space and MOVEMENT. What a relief and a gift.