Mobile Photography and Art Interview – Hope In Adversity Interview with Joy Barry

For the past several weeks, I have been staying with my sister while she and I care for her son (my nephew) who is terminally ill. He’s receiving intermittent in-home nursing care from a local hospice provider, but his mother and I are his primary caregivers.

During this time, the Coronavirus has been spreading internationally and exponentially and news programs have been non-stop, informative, and somewhat grim. Due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, and in an attempt to protect my immune-compromised nephew and his caregivers, the hospice advised us to restrict visitors to only those most essential to my nephew’s care. [Fortunately, he said his good-byes to relatives, friends, and colleagues; therefore, this restriction was not as much of a hardship for him as it has been for his friends and family.]

For me, this period feels both reverent and surreal. I am so grateful to have the clinical expertise and the support system necessary to be present for my sister and nephew and to provide the love, support, hands-on care, advocacy, and effective symptom palliation everyone deserves at the end of life.

Against this most intimate and sacred of backdrops, the whole Coronavirus pandemic seems surreal — like I am switching my focus from “macro” (my nephew’s unique, individual, and final journey) to “wide” (our global, collective, human journey). Perhaps that is part of the reason I find myself compelled to leave the house for a little while each day — to walk outside; to breathe; to be in nature; to renew my spirit; to refresh my heart and mind; to appreciate my surroundings; to capture images with my iPhone; to preserve this unique milieu. Life feels more precious when my awareness is focused.

My style has definitely changed these past several weeks. I find myself wishing I could capture the beauty of my nephew’s face, expressions, and body but not wanting to be intrusive or exploitative; perhaps wishing to preserve him. I also find myself seeking more spiritually poignant/meaningful images to express the tender beauty of these moments.

My usual/favorite digital art workflows involve vibrant macro flower photography; however, my art feels a bit darker than usual right now. Someone described a recent image I posted on Facebook as “melancholic” and I would have to agree.

I am a member of the Cape Cod Art Center’s Digital Art Group, which is facilitated by a fabulously talented artist, Barbara Braman. During this time of social distancing, Barbara is keeping our group connected, inspired, and productive with digital art challenges such as “round robin” collaborations and solo projects that we post on our group’s Facebook page.

We use a structured feedback format that was provided by another accomplished artist, Meri Walker. After studying an image, the viewer provides feedback using the following three statements: “I see…” (to describe what stands out — for you, the viewer — about the image); “I feel…” (to articulate which feelings rise up while viewing the image); “I wonder…” (to provide constructive feedback and other commentary). As a viewer, I find using this format helps me really study each image and provide meaningful feedback; as an artist, I am humbled by and grateful for the opportunity to consider and grow from alternative views and feedback.

This is such a poignant time for me personally, and such a time of uncertainty and distress globally, that creating art is especially important and impactful to me. When shared, art touches us, it moves us, it connects us. Art has: The power to activate; the universality to unite; and the ability to ignite our innermost essence. Art invites inspiration in its truest meaning — by breathing life into us.

I believe in the importance of sharing art as widely as possible, especially in times like these. I am so thankful that the New York Metropolitan Opera launched a free streaming service so people can access their performances every night; museums are providing free virtual tours; Yo Yo Ma and other musicians are providing free “comfort music” online; and the list goes on and on. People are amazing.

They are cleaver, and funny, and inspirational, and resilient; and willing to help one another in these uncertain times. And it’s a beautiful (and oh-so-important) thing. Digital sharing, specifically, allows for instantaneous, world-wide communication, making the world seem smaller, perhaps even more united. It reminds me that we all live on this incredible planet together, and it makes a vision of unity and peace seem within our reach.

I believe the current global pandemic is providing us with an opportunity to redefine “community”. What comprises a community? What does it mean to be part of a community? How can we help one another in turbulent and uncertain times such as these? How do we stay healthy, vibrant, inspired, connected — alive?

In closing, I wish to thank Joanne Carter and TheAppWhisperer for asking me to participate in this “Hope in Adversity” project and to thank you for reading my interview. Also, thank you for creating and sharing your art. Thank you for inspiring me.

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