Lost or Discarded

I began to notice masks on the ground shortly after the pandemic started. I found them along pathways, in parking lots, in grassy fields and in front of homes. They were an invasive element of our daily landscape that became so ubiquitous most of us did not notice them. Nearly all of the masks felt like they had been there for a time, forgotten. I began documenting these masks through photographs and small paintings as well as collecting the masks. I thought I could easily paint a small watercolor a day of each of the masks. However, after a time, I became overwhelmed by the number of masks and by the emotional weariness of the ongoing pandemic that felt like it would not end. I kept collecting photos and sometimes masks and thought I might return to painting these small reminders of the big changes in the world. Instead I made a shift from daily documentation to creating more involved pieces that deal with our ongoing engagement with the pandemic, one another and the world we inhabit.

Masks have become a symbol of this time­‑ a reminder that what was once hoped to be temporary now feels permanent. That this pandemic, the world reaction and our own individual experiences during this time will forever leave a lasting impact, whether intentional or accidental, on each of us.