I think most of us would agree, these are interesting times! I'm writing this on March 18, 2020, which is the Wednesday of Spring Break here in Fort Collins, Colorado. Because of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) spreading through the United States and around the world, life as we know it has been paused -- and may never return to the "normal" we knew before. Social distancing, or maintaining at least 6 feet of separation between ourselves and other people outside our homes, is a necessary precaution for the foreseeable future.
Yesterday I was feeling anxious about the news and needed some time away from the house, so I went for a walk. I thought about how we can e-mail each other, interact on social media, send texts, make video calls, and use technology in a bunch of other ways I haven't listed, to keep in touch. But questions swirled in my mind, such as "How can we maintain connection with those outside our immediate family without staring at a computer or phone screen?" and "What's an outdoor activity that doesn't require getting too close to other people?" As I walked, in the back of my mind I was also seeking subject matter for the blog on my newly designed website. By this time, I was making my way home through an alley just east of the CSU campus. I stopped to admire several outdoor wall murals and transformer cabinet murals by local artists when an idea came to me. A resource I've recently created could solve several dilemmas in one fell swoop!
Here's my idea: I can invite you -- and others interested in my work -- on a tour of my artwork on permanent exhibit around Fort Collins! In the next paragraph you will find a link to my new Art Map. If you live in this area, you can follow the map to walk, bike, and/or drive to the location of each piece and see it in person. And if you don't live nearby, you can take a virtual tour by clicking on the icons in the map to see a photo and read a brief description of each artwork. Either way, your tour can be accomplished while taking the necessary precautions to keep yourself safe during this coronavirus pandemic.
If you please, click on THIS LINK and you will see my brand new, interactive map of all the transformer cabinets and other murals I have painted in the Fort Collins area and beyond. (I won't stop you from visiting the other pages of my website; just please understand that some parts are still under construction.)
If you do choose to take a tour of my Fort Collins artworks, either physically or virtually, I hope the exercise brings you joy and feelings of connection. Take good care of yourselves, and please feel free to share with me about your experience.
Love,