Finding beauty among the chaos of COVID-19
Editor’s note: This blog post is part of an ongoing series of Progress Notes posts featuring students reflecting on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Stasia Iwuc, one mode of personal expression during the COVID-19 pandemic has been visual art and painting.
Iwuc, who is student president of the Baylor College of Medicine Orthotics and Prosthetics class of 2021, shares some of her work and discusses the inspiration and meaning behind her recent art.
Q: What inspired you to create your artwork?
A: I think that I was mainly trying to keep myself sane. I already had the canvas and some paint lying around, so I felt that it was a good chance to try something new. I usually do work on canvas, and I’m typically utilizing paint pens and writing different fonts. This was my first time using the acrylic pouring medium. I felt as though I truly had nothing to lose.
Q: Does your art have a title? Could you describe its meaning and significance?
A: I never came up with a title for it. I chose a lot of blues and darker colors that are typically associated with sadness and wanted to find a way to make something new out of it. Looking at the finished project, I found beauty in the chaos of the painting, which I think is fitting for the time that we find ourselves in now.
Q: How has this form of expression helped you process the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: I think that finding ways to fill my time and occupy my mind during this pandemic, such as painting, has altered my perspective on the events unfolding. I feel as if it has made social distancing more manageable and helped me appreciate this as a time for personal growth in different aspects of my life – some of which tend to be neglected in the hustle and bustle of typical society.
