Tucson COVID Tales No. 26: Nature and Art, by Gene Hall
As the campus closure approached in mid-March, I wasn’t sure how my job as an entomologist at the University of Arizona would be affected. Eventually, I was given “essential personnel” status and continued working on campus in a vacated, locked, dead-quiet building, but for months the majority of my work hours were still spent remotely at home, not knowing how long the shutdown would last.
A bit of a loner by nature, even I could feel the heaviness of imposed isolation. My routine is restricted to home and campus during the workweek, groceries on the weekends. My girlfriend lives in her own casa, we instigate social distancing when necessary based on our own social activities, and we’re grateful for when we’re together. Jimmy and Cesar, my canine companions, sustain me during these strange times. While necessary, wearing a mask hasn’t lessened the surreal feeling of the pandemic, each social experience is like attending a dangerous masquerade ball.
Art, specifically painting, has helped me cope with the uncertainty caused by COVID concerns. It took a few weeks to regain my creative stride. Similar to other artists I know during this time, there were periods of stalled productivity when initially I thought isolation would provide more focus on my work. Galleries have been closed since March and show schedules delayed, so I’m painting without deadlines, which has pros and cons. The goal is to move forward, not allowing outside forces to sabotage the dedicated focus in the studio.
Nature is another essential element in my life. It has always fascinated and inspired me. Among my earliest memories are those of animals and plants outdoors, as well as drawing them from photos in books. We’re all part of nature, and humans represent one of millions of species inhabiting this planet. The incredible biodiversity on Earth is beautiful and enlightening, demonstrating the interconnectedness of all species, how fragile life can be, and the balance needed to maintain the world’s survival. The rampant greed and arrogance of our species doesn’t always agree with those concepts, a deeper discussion for another time.
When life becomes overwhelming, nature and art have always been my salvation, anchors for when I’m set adrift. While my art generally contains natural elements (for me it’s unavoidable), during the pandemic it’s become increasingly more grounded in and informed by nature. To quote David Hockney’s appreciation of Chinese art, “They say you need three things for paintings: the hand, the eye, and the heart. Two won’t do.”
My first COVID-period painting was a spirit animal, a bird of the family Corvidae, an unintentional play on words. I continue to produce a body of work inspired by the wonderment of nature while experiencing the beautiful, at times harsh and deadly, world around us.
We’re probably going to be in this wretched pandemic a while longer. Enjoy life and have a bit of fun.
Gene Hall is an entomologist and curator at the University of Arizona.
Category: TUCSON COVID TALES
