Mobile Photography and Art—‘Hope in Adversity’ Interview with Judy Lurie Wahlberg from Boulder, Colorado, United States

Yes, I am social distancing and isolating. My passion and drive to create and express myself remains the same. As a working psychotherapist my work continues online; therefore, for the most part I do not experience my time differently. What I do experience is a depth of shock, and fear that I have never felt before. This period of time has created a state of being that I and others have never experienced. I cannot interpret this period in a way that is normal. My sense of loss of security and safety has changed. I sense a normal depression and fear that goes along with this loss. In the beginning of this pandemic I attempted to manage my experience through focused self – control, but after some months of that it was not working. My main feeling through this entire experience is that my art remains the ground with which I feel hope, truth and above all – a realness and purpose internally. My art remains a constant. It defines me in a way that is bigger and more expansive than the continuous bombardment of chaos and negativity.

I feel inside myself a need to change or adjust my art in a way that is different than the usual sense of what I do. I want to express an emotion that contributes to the depth of what we are all going through. I come from a painterly background, so my tendency is to feel that I have created a painting. My change to photo manipulation has been so personally inspirational – no messy paints – and instead I am aided by tremendous and stunning apps that bring continuous surprises. At times, they seem to do the work for me. This way of creating the photo is a supreme delight – a small miracle! It brings life, spirituality, and essence into my life every day. In my teaching I talk so much about the importance that one has a purpose in this lifetime. I have felt this purpose since my father gave me my first camera at age fifteen.

Yes, the inspiration comes from an internal self that is constantly processing and adjusting to this new normal. I am so inspired by the many creative artists in this Community that I am stretched to reach new expression in my art. I want to add that it is joyful experience to make connections from the quiet of my own home to all those who I know feel the same. My inspiration also comes from those I work with who every day show me what courage means to them. This moment in time provides me with powerful grit to face the unknown, and to find a place to put this new normal in one’s psyche.

This help I receive is invaluable. It is life force itself. It drives me to feel so much relief. Sometimes I term it a distraction, but it is so much more. It is a nourishing life force reaching out to the life I feel that comes to me from the Community. It is connection – as I am able to post and show how my art has affected others. It is the joy and interest I feel as I look at the incredible creative work I see every day. I experience a jump of quality and substance from so many other artists. It is a beautiful sharing – in that I know and can imagine what each artist is going through in some common shared experience.

Yes, there is not a question this is happening. I am of the belief that the combined effort of our work creates a magnetic center that not only effects but expands out to others on a level that most of us cannot feel. For me it is the spread of positivity, of life – giving energy that moves in ways I do not understand fully but feel deeply.

I want to thank you, Joanne. I think you are so remarkable! You have done so much to create and expand this world of social media. Your passionate quest for beauty and artistry, for the community and for personal success of every artist is inspirational and amazing! I see your greatness and passion in the endeavour. I will be forever grateful for your unwavering belief in the meaning and depth of artistry and the community. I thank you for this opportunity to express these thoughts.

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