By Victoria Pevzner ‘24, Arts and Entertainment Staff Writer 

Soon after its first appearance, the COVID-19 virus rapidly spread all over the world, sending millions into lockdown and quarantine. Through these difficult times, fear was a common emotion. People felt that there was no one to support and guide them. However, through arts and entertainment, people were able to bring understanding, support, and even humor into these strange times. 

Often, connecting to a work of art can make the viewer feel that they are not alone because their emotions are shared with the artist. Silvia López Chavez, an artist based in Boston, Massachusetts said in an interview, “Now, more than ever, I think people realize the importance of public art. It has this capacity to bring joy, to bring wonder, to bring a glimpse of hope when you’re outside during this time that is so challenging and difficult.” López Chavez paints murals in Boston, bringing connection and community through her work by expressing a variety of emotions in her pieces. Her murals have an effect on the viewer because of their size — a person can’t miss them, so it is easier for everyone to see, appreciate, and connect to the artwork. Dina D’Argo, based in Springfield, TN, has expressed her emotions in her painting, “Into the Void.” She says, “I created this piece to sooth [sic] my own restless mind and to prepare myself for the possibility that during this pandemic, I may lose a loved one or lose my own life.” In the piece, a woman with a veil over her face floats in mid-air. The veil, according to D’Argo, symbolizes the rejection of reality. For many, it felt impossible to accept the “new normal.” The concept of uncertainty is portrayed in this painting as well, as can be seen by the veil covering the woman’s eyes, which restrains her from figuring out what is happening.

Even at NA, students have used art to work through the emotions that they were feeling while quarantining. Artist Kieri Keys ‘24 says, “COVID gave me a lot of time to work on my art and also a large topic to work with. When working on a piece it’s really easy to forget everything else that’s happening in the moment, so sometimes I forgot [about] the situation we were all in, thanks to whatever drawing I was working on.”

Art can be an outlet for people of all ages. For both young school students and professional artists, art is a way to temporarily separate from the outside world and take a deep breath. It is also a way for an artist to portray emotion, and a way for others to connect to what the artist is feeling. The pandemic limited social interaction, which is the best form of connection. People had to find other ways to express their feelings to one another. Through art, people can connect and realize that they are not alone.