This is a series of 3 small grayscale paintings based off of photographs of my neighborhood park (Harvey Park, Denver) in late March 2020, during lockdown.
"Praise God Always" depicts the phrase in crude graffiti on the wall of a deserted handball court. Though I am not personally religious, the phrase struck me as as sign of hope and encouragement in the early stages of lockdown.
"Empty Pool" shows a public swimming pool with no water. The lack of color and figures in the landscape exemplifies a feeling of loneliness that was paramount at this time.
"Closed for Season" shows a utility building in Harvey Park with a water fountain. This building is right next to a playground and normally the landscape is filled with kids playing, riding bikes; parents and grandparents visiting, etc. In this depiction there are no figures, since we were all on lockdown during this time. All trees have been removed from the landscape to emphasize the feeling of loneliness and emptiness.
Initially during COVID, it was difficult to make work when we first went into lockdown due to work demands and lack of childcare. Inspiration-wise, everything felt irrelevant with the uncertainty of the world. Shows that I had planned in were cancelled, but eventually I was able to resume making art at night and by September my inspiration and drive to create had returned full force.
