Emerson Horne, ‘24

During quarantine, I experienced a mind-numbing, world-shifting, horridly awful feeling of isolation. The kind where you ultimately convince yourself that you’re the only person who has ever felt that way, and I wondered if other young people like myself were still reeling from the effects of quarantine. In an attempt to find an understanding of my pain, I googled: “What are the long-term effects of isolation in quarantine?” A study done by Psychiatry Research indicates that, “while young adults are at the lowest risk of becoming severely physically ill as a result of COVID-19, they are at the greatest risk of adverse mental health outcomes.” I believe it’s vital to confront these wounds within ourselves from this loss of human connection. Isn’t art the best way to do that?

This exhibition explores the effects of isolation due to COVID-19 and how its effects manifested into reshaping the emotional state of five young artists’ lives. It dives into how feelings of loss, isolation, coping, and connection manifest inside their artworks. It also examines personal statements by the artists aligning with the works' key themes.

As you walk through this room, you may find echoes of familiar feelings within the artworks. This shared experience of loss, though it suspended our world, created a renaissance for the appreciation of physical human connection, reminding us all how precious it is to be alive, to feel.

Jude Williams
Untitled, 2020