Collaborative collage to process a pandemic
Published by The Arts Health Network ACT NSW
As a parent, I watched as my three children managed home-schooling during a lockdown in different ways. We all felt stuck and at times overwhelmed but the public health restrictions also ushered in deeper thinking about the rhythm of our lives and how we make meaning in a time of flux.
I decided I wanted to shed light, in a practical way, on the experience of lockdown for students and what helped them process complex feelings about COVID-19.
I approached my local primary school and offered to be a volunteer artist in residence. The principal generously created space for me to produce a collaborative artwork that reflected students’ feelings and hopes as the pandemic forced learning online.
With the support of teachers, I asked students the following questions late in 2020:
How did you feel about the lockdown when you were doing home learning?
What really helped you during home learning?
In a word or two, what is the best thing about this year for you?
I also asked students to create two rubbings of leaves with colours that they thought reflected their answers. The leaves would become part of a collage but in a form that would emerge as I received the survey answers.
More than 500 students participated from Kindy through to Year 6.
Students reported feeling “sad”, “bored”, “confused”, “stressed” and “frustrated.” Some felt “scared” and the lockdown experience “really intense.” While not a surprise in many ways, the answers were an authentic record that helped validate their experiences.
Lockdown wasn’t difficult or challenging for all students. Some said they found home learning “fine” and “good” as they could spend more time with their family, especially their mums, and stay in their pyjamas all day.
Students offered a variety of responses to the question of what helped them during the ACT-wide lockdown. They included “playing outside,” “connecting with friends on the computer”, their “parents”, “riding a bike” and playing “video games.”
There were an even wider variety of responses to the question asking students to nominate the best thing about 2020. Many said “my teacher,” the happiness of “getting back to school”, “music”, “walking” and “the return of sports”. Some said “a new baby” or “new dog” “having hope” and “being alive” among real heart warmers such as “running and raising money for trees,” and “seeing my friends and family safe”.
Most answers showed the value of relationships and keeping connected. Without wanting to simplify their varied experiences nor the complexity of mental health, students’ poignant responses pointed to the resilience of young people. The survey results also showed that women were by far the more likely carer at home.
Using the responses, I designed an artwork that could capture the survey results.
I settled on a final composition of a nearby mountain (celebrated in the school’s name) using the frottaged leaves. It became a backdrop to a student looking into the eyes of her fluffy dog given that “pets” and “nature” were among the positive things that students said helped them during the lockdown. I added text – student responses to the survey questions around the silhouette of the mountain.
It was many volunteer hours but really satisfying. As it was taking shape on large sheets of paper in the hallway near the school front office, I was asked by many passing students about its progress. They pointed to and read the text as food for thought. I was also encouraged by teachers who clearly valued the project as a way for the school community to reflect and marvel at getting through a challenging year.
The collage called Our 2020 provided a snapshot of shared experience, authenticating what was and showing that visual art has the power to add value; to spur conversation and provide alternative modes for processing ideas and emotions.