An art exhibition will show how Queenslanders turned to art to get through coronavirus isolation
How living through coronavirus isolation impacted Queensland artists, from an 11-year-old child to a 78-year-old living through nursing home lockdowns. READ THEIR STORIES
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Living in pandemic-forced isolation separated people from their families, their friends and their jobs.
But for some people art became an outlet during the difficult times.
An art exhibition set to be held in Albion later this month will feature professional and amateur artist who turned to arts to get through isolation.
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Exhibition organiser Renata Jayne realised how many people had turned to art to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic as she stood in line outside an art supplies shop waiting to buy a tube of pain.
“I usually work 5-6 days a week with little spare time to dedicate to my art. Suddenly I had time, with no social engagements allowed and no work. A spare room organically became my art studio filled with easels, oils and watercolours” she said.
The exhibition features 28 Queensland artists, from just 11-year-old to a 78-year-old nursing home resident.
Renata Jayne
“Lock down was a huge break for me being a full time performer, visitor in schools,” she said.
“It sent me into my ‘pop up’ art studio at home.
“Lining up outside art shops during isolation made me realise many others were doing the same thing.
“Art makes you feel happy and for me contributes to good mental health.
“It releases of emotions out of your body and puts you on a high.
“Spending hours in a painting gives your mind a rest from the mouse wheel of every day worries.”
Janice Bathan
“I had been doing acrylic pouring now for two years,” she said.
“I started it as a hobby and had fun doing it. It is my weekend hobby and I pour at least a piece weekly.
“It relaxes me, it makes me creative and I get to use my favourite colours according to my moods
“I’m really excited as I have never exhibited my art before. This exhibition has given me the motivation to sell my art pieces and start my own Instagram arts page. I am truly excited to be a part of a community exhibition.”
Sila Sak
“The timing (hearing about the exhibition) was pretty amazing because I felt very disheartened, displaced and overwhelmed at the time,” Sila Sak said.
by everything that my family has been through during the past eight years and coronavirus isolation was the icing on the top,” she said.
“Also missing family and friends back in New Zealand, isolation on top of isolation and not knowing when we can see our elderly parents again is pretty real.”
Hunter Sak (11)
“I’m so excited for my first proper exhibition, I’m excited to show people my artwork and make sales,” he said.
“I want to do this since I noticed my mum is doing it and that’s an opportunity for me, I also like how this exhibition is going to a good cause helping animals.”
Colin Jekel
“During isolation I was an essential worker,” he said.
“After work I would isolate, and saw this exhibition and thought it was a good time to get back into my art.
It has really helped me to feel happy during this COVID-19 time.”
Sinead Nunan
“2020 has been exceptionally tough year for so many of us,” she said.
“However, I genuinely believe that it’s so important to find positivity among the desolation, the find light in the darkness. If we don’t what hope is there.
“I want to bring love and positive energy. There is always hope and a rainbow after a storm.”
Margaret Schofield
“I am a 78 year young artist now living at a nursing home with Parkinson’s disease,” she said.
“We have been in lockdown on and off and art has been my saviour.
“I don’t even know if I can get to this exhibition as we are still in lockdown, but my art will be there, and I am just happy knowing this.
Basil Wallace
“Growing up I never thought I would be an artist because I am not great at drawing or painting, so this is really exciting to share my ceramics as part of an exhibition,” he said.
The exhibition will be held at the Albion Peace Centre on Friday, September 18 from 6pm to 9pm. Entry is free but tickets can be purchased for food and to help fund the Dayboro Farm Animal Rescue.
Originally published as An art exhibition will show how Queenslanders turned to art to get through coronavirus isolation