Our twenty-third post of the series, Artists in the Time of Coronavirus includes Vicente Ortiz Cortez, Maddy Hunt, Aayushi, Becca Dent Hanagan, Arianna Mohiuddin, and Justin Phillips! Thank you for all who submitted! And if you want to participate, send your statement (250 words max) and 2 photos to support@theartblog.org. More details here. Stay safe and stay positive, and come back in the days to come for more “Artists in the Time of Coronavirus.” We have a wonderful community and are so proud of being able to share everyone’s art.
[Note: We have gotten over 250 submissions, so if you haven’t seen yours yet, don’t worry- it is coming, and we can’t wait to post it!]
Vicente Ortiz Cortez
As opposed to my installation and performance work, my colored pencil drawings allow me to work intimately from the comfort of my home. Because of the need for social distancing, drawings will now take the place of performance work initially planned for an upcoming group show at the William Way LGBT Community Center (when and if the show happens, fingers crossed).
Instagram: @ortizcortezstudio
Website: ortizcortez.com
Maddy Hunt
I work in the hospitality industry. Unfortunately, a lot of people in hospitality have recently lost their jobs, myself included. For the first time in a while, I had such an emotional reaction that I thought “I gotta paint this to deal with it,” and so I made the attached painting with acrylic paint and marker on canvas. Some of the lyrics to Pink Floyd’s “Money” and “In the Flesh” were worked into the painting – mainly because that’s what I was listening to while painting, but their music is pretty cathartic in general! I gotta say, it worked – I felt a lot better once it was done.
During these tough times, I hope everyone’s able to find an outlet to process what they’re going through. Sometimes it’s enough just to get what’s in your head out into the world – even if it’s just for yourself.
Thanks for your time!
Maddy // IG: @mhunt109
Aayushi
I’ve never thought of myself as an artist, but more of an aesthete, but I suppose I fulfill the minimum conditions for being an artist, which is that I create, constantly. While I mostly do photography, I’ve been trying to do more mixed media, and I’ve been trying to add colour to my journal. I’ve been playing more and performing less (for an audience), and creating more at night, when my defences are down, which has led to some interesting discoveries about the self. All of last year, I beat myself up for not creating work that moved an audience or work that was novel. It was only a few weeks ago that I realised that all the time I spent being bad, I was actually growing and learning. I don’t know if I’ll ever be a true artist, but I have a life full of art, and for now, that is enough.
Find my photography on tasveermubarak.tumblr.com (it means congratulations on your photograph!).
Becca Dent Hanagan
For me, art has always been there during the darkest days!
It has been a driving force of inspiration throughout my life.
Art in it’s various forms has served as my protective armor and has liberated me from my own personal demons.As I post my work daily, I will also be sharing my favorite artists, films, music and books. My hope is that as they help me, they will also help distract others from the chaos outside and inspire us all to keep going! Together we can get through this!
Becca Dent Hanagan is an emerging artist living in Philadelphia who primarily works in Portraiture. After receiving a BFA from Moore College of Art and Design in 2005, Becca started working at the Free Library of Philadelphia, promoting the arts and molding young minds for the LEAP After- School program.
During the next 15 years, Becca would work to perfect her skills and find her voice. She would begin teaching both group and private art lessons for adults and children as well as find a love for curating art exhibits. All of this would be done within her local community!
In the past year, Becca has shown her work in nine different shows and in four diverse galleries, one of those being Avenue Cup Café where she personally curated art exhibits.
She has emerged into the Philly arts scene with a range of work consisting of a variety of themes and mediums.
Her work is raw, surreal, often painted and drawn, collected treasures, photographs of her favorite haunts, symbols of her Indian heritage and drawings of macabre kindred spirits.
One thing for sure, Becca’s work comes straight from her heart.
Social Media Links:
– http://www.instagram.com/angelpunk1
– https://facebook.com/viverevignettes
www.southstreetartmart.com
Arianna Mohiuddin
My name is Arianna Mohiuddin. I am originally from the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but have lived in Philly since June 2018. I’m a physician by day and abstract artist by night. I’m 100% self-taught. I work primarily with watercolor, gouache, and mixed media, and sometimes 3D mediums like tree trunks. I am also a doctor on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic in Philly. I am on a break from work for one more week, but I go back on Thursday. I hope the N95 masks I frantically ordered off eBay get here in time, because Amazon sold out a long time ago. It’s getting scary because I just wrote out my advance directive and will, but I’m trying to be strong. I am limiting TV and social media, as these have become too stressful.
I live alone and this time has been isolating but also beneficial. Instead of the news, I am focusing on my art. Here is a piece and selfie from today. Relax — I won’t wear the blue hair extension to work, it was just for fun! Wish me luck. ♥️
Justin Phillips
Since this crisis started I have been trying to remain calm, in the moment, thoughtful, and accessible. For my family and friends, for my students and colleagues. I am as many educators have shifted our format and I am also reaching out and connecting with my students who are facing a variety of challenges. Like a pit bull I am locked in. I haven’t even thought about my studio practice. I feel lucky. I cultivated a practice that is kind and allows me to gently pick up the work where I left off with no emotions of guilt or feelings of abandonment. I know that this crisis will be in my work. I am not sure how but it will. One of my dearest friends used to say to me often… “be gentle with yourself”. I encourage you all to do the same right now when it comes to your relationship to your practice. Be gentle with yourself. Artblog, thank you for this opportunity, this is the first time I have cried since this crisis started, I needed that. Be safe and be healthy.
Love,
Justin Phillips
justinphillipsart.com
@justinphillipsart
