Inspiration in Isolation
Cathy M Koos
I am writing this on my 22nd day of home isolation (March 31) and hear we have another month to go. I’ve been thinking about ways I maintain my connection with the rest of humanity and find inspiration. Inspiration to pursue my art, to write, and even sometimes to just to get up in the morning.
I had to start isolating sooner than most because I had pneumonia last month, so I am getting to be an old hand at this. I reorganized and categorized my personal 1000-volume library, found some books I forgot I had, gave away many, and have a stack of reading material on my table.
Now with the home isolation in full swing, my only daily companion is my Labrador Retriever, Cody. We hold a lot of one-sided conversations these days.
Where do we find inspiration during stressful times? I find that the act of creating really soothes and centers me. Living on a gravel road in a rural neighborhood is really conducive to taking a mind-clearing walk every day. Out in the sunshine, I can clear my head and observe nature on a close-up-and-personal basis: which fruit trees are blooming, birds I see and hear, watching the antics of wild turkeys and a Towhee that is infatuated with the mirror on my car.
Maintaining connection with my tribe is another key to dealing with this necessary isolation. My guild, Del Oro Spinners and Weavers, uses email between meetings. Now that we cannot hold meetings, those reply-all emails are coming fast and frequent, sharing our activities, recipes, and support.
Here are a few projects from our latest guild check-in:
Janice Johnson belongs to both Del Oro and the Carson Sierra guild. Longtime knitter, dyer and spinner, we recently got Janice hooked on weaving. Janice takes inspiration from current events and wove this scarf she calls “COVID-19,” to commemorate her time in isolation.
Stephenie Gaustad, author, teacher, artist, weaver, spinner, knitter always has projects brewing.
“Been doing some spinning lately. And thinking about you all. Hope all is well.
Just pick the fibers that really give your heart a zing! Or the projects that have been at the back of the closet waiting for this “rainy day.” Whatever makes you smile or wonder “what if????”
Laura Carpender is an amazingly productive weaver, spinner and knitter. She has four looms dressed and ready to go. This week, she wove towels. “My sunny weaving spot. My orchids love the sun all morning.”
Madlene Stanton is busy in her garden and teaching her grandson to weave.
Rose Outland, teacher, spinner, and shepherdess to a flock of Jacob sheep. Rose says, “I’m just very lucky to have animals, and so many things I love to do around the house.” Here is Rose’s latest creation, courtesy of Bobby, the sheep.
Rose LeClerc is a long-distance member currently isolating with her musician husband.
“My husband and I were just talking last night about creativity and my weaving and his music. I cherish the love song he wrote to me.
“We were talking about how you start with an idea or view of what you want, but often the end product isn’t the idea you started with. Except, we agreed, with people like Michelangelo. We both could imagine him looking at a slab of marble and knowing what it was to become, before he took the first stroke.
“I did a bit of wood carving years ago. David is a luthier and has made mountain dulcimers since the early 70s. I decided to try and carve the small block of wood that becomes the head on the dulcimer. I did have an idea to start with but the stylized bird head that came out was not it. It was like the wood was talking to me.
“I find that happens with my weaving as well. The idea/plan I had for this piece was to start with earth tones and end up with a brilliant, clear sky. But it doesn’t seem that’s what’s coming out…
“So I guess what’s becoming clear to me is we do what we need to keep our spirits up. And we are all reminded these days that it’s the little things that are most important- telling the people you love that you love them, appreciating a tiny wildflower or even a banana slug on the park trail.”
Stay connected and don’t let this current event quell your spirit.
Stay Calm and Art On!