The Silver Lining by Michelle Johnston
Commissioned by Tim Redman
Inspired by the confession…
Artist Statement
This piece is about the magnification of anxious feelings brought on by quarantining during COVID-19 and finding the silver linings in your situation. Many people are going through a very difficult time during this period and it is important to... treat your mind with kindness. I don’t think I grasped how hard I am on myself until experiencing the isolation from COVID 19. The lack of distractions during social isolation has made me aware of the negative thoughts that I have about myself. At some points this felt debilitating and I realized that I had to get myself out of that way of thinking.
When I read the entries for COVID confessions, I was inspired by the importance of the little things. One mother’s entry mentioned speaking with her children about their “gratefuls”; some of the things her family is thankful for. Another person’s confession spoke about rediscovering their inner voice that they hadn’t heard in a long time. There was a woman who left a voicemail message about finally being able to get things done.
By combining the inspiration from the different entries I was able to come up with something colourful and positive that was not only reflective of the entries, but also of my own experience. Being kind to myself and looking at the silver linings of COVID has really helped me get through this challenging time.
