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Creating to Cope during Covid19: Large Mask Painting #1, 2020-02-04

 Item
Identifier: togetherApart-161_

Scope and Contents

Being sent home from CSUSM with instructions to work from home, I was caught by surprise but I thought this would be a nice change of pace and I could find some free time to create my art. What I didn’t know was we’d be home far longer than I expected and the Stay-at-Home quarantine orders was not only coming from our university but also from our state and nation. The news on my television blared and it was nerve wrecking to hear but we couldn’t refrain from listening to it. The excitement in the voice of all newscasters made my heart beat a little faster and the news was creating quite a panic for all. It was not only in our local region but it was global! I am a double CSUSM graduate and my research and practice has been focused on the arts and mental health. I also teach art healing courses through the CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care so I knew what I needed to do. I started by coping mechanisms by sketching rough drafts and dooldes in my sketchbook. It depicted what I was hearing on the news and the stress I was feeling. Then, we were told to wash our hands all the time but now we needed to wear a face mask everywhere we went? Wow, how is this happening in 2020? From sketching in my books and journals, I’d find time to paint in the evenings and on the weekends after spending long periods of time on the computer. Afterall, all communication was now via something called Zoom? What in the world is Zoom, I thought. When I was growing up, my parents taught me and brothers to go outside and play, “get away from the television, it will make you go blind”, they say. From working in sketchbooks to painting in a small room at home, I wanted to get out. I needed fresh air and sunshine but where could I go without having to wear a mask or be near people? I took a lot of hikes and did some gardening with my husband. This inspired me to paint more. I also had the opportunity to paint an outdoor mural on a wall located in Oceanside, California, at the Muramid Art & Cultural Center founded by my friend and community partner, Joanne Tawfilis. We painted animals and nature on outdoor walls and they were to enclose a cultural garden. Our nation’s political status was (and still is) a brewing hot pot and stress continues to grow. So many questions, so many uncertainties drove me to create more so I could process what was happening. I painted flowers and nature, colorful animals and people. I painted national symbols and the crisis we are experience during a pandemic. Art is the tool I use, to help me process, connect and communicate with other and to cope through this crisis. This Covid19 pandemic continues, our global crisis’ continue, so I continue to create. #ThankANurse #ProtectOurEarth #HumanityandLove #Covid19Sucks #StayAtHome #WearAMask #LovePrevails #ArtHeals #MakeArtNotWar Marilyn Huerta

Dates

  • Other: 2020-02-04

Creator

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

Most textual materials are written in English. Some textual materials also have some Spanish-language writing. Most video and audio materials are English-language.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Some items have been reformatted and have digital preservation copies. In such cases, researchers may request listening/viewing/reading copies. The Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room is accessible by appointment only, Monday-Friday, 8am - 4pm. Final requests for materials must be made one hour prior to closing. Please submit requests for archival materials at least 24 hours in advance of desired appointment. Materials requested over the weekend will be available on the following Tuesday at the earliest. Please note that Special Collections and University Archives observes all campus holiday closures as noted in the Library Calendar. For more information, please send an email to archives@csusm.edu.

Extent

From the Collection: 1.57 Gigabytes

From the Collection: 3 Linear Feet

Repository Details

Part of the CSUSM Special Collections Repository

Contact:
California State University San Marcos Library
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Rd
San Marcos California 92096-0001 United States
760-750-4312