From gardening to sketching to releasing an EP on Spotify, the Hunter community is getting creative during the quarantine.
As stay-at-home orders keep people inside throughout the United States, they are turning to mindful practices, focus, and creative challenges that can help them generate new ideas and feel more motivated, according to Harvard Business Review.
Hunter students and faculty are hungry for stimulation as living in confinement becomes a norm. They are drawn into old hobbies and have become curious to try more kinesthetic activities as our ability to communicate, socialize, and work becomes digitized due to the coronavirus.
The photo essay below shows how living with constraints has led the Hunter community into a more creative path.
- Krystie Calle, media >Krystie Calle, media “I’ve been working on this arts and crafts mini house that I bought before the quarantine. I wanted to have a side project throughout this last semester. It’s so satisfying once you get one part done!” -Ridgewood, Queens
- Theresa Vu, media and studio art>Theresa Vu, media and studio art “Art is an escape from the world for however long I can set aside time for it. Now that I do have time, it’s difficult to get into the right headspace. When I do get to that point, collage allows me to take images to create a unique message. It’s always mattered to me, but I could never give it the attention it requires until I’m in the studio or at home.” -Middle Village, Queens
- Kierra Willis, childhood education>Kierra Willis, childhood education “My boyfriend and I do an at-home paint-and-sip to pass the time and do something fun. It has always been something that I’ve always enjoyed doing so it was a way to get some normality back in my life during this crazy time.” - Starrett City, Brooklyn
- Paul Frediani, Italian literature>Paul Frediani, Italian literature “I’ve been developing a one-man show. The story I’m developing is mostly about my father and his life as an immigrant. This matters to me because it reminds me that every generation has its challenges. It teaches me that we will overcome and these hard times won’t last. It is in these difficult times, our morals, ethics and humanity are put to the test.” -Upper West Side, Manhattan
- Mahita Bandlamudi, human biology>Mahita Bandlamudi, human biology “I chose to sing because it serves as a stress reliever after studying all day long. Singing is one of the only things that matters to me right now. It’s one of the only things I’ve done even before quarantine, so I wish to continue it.” -New Hyde Park, Queens
- David Pavlosky, Media/Film Advisor>David Pavlosky, Media/Film Advisor “The farmer’s market close to me is closed due to the pandemic, so I found these seeds from previous years in my kitchen drawer and planted them. I have a little garden outside my apartment and grow tomatoes, cantaloupes, basil, peppers, sunflowers, parsley and dill every year.” -Upper West Side, Manhattan
- Julie Van Peteghem, Italian Professor>Julie Van Peteghem, Italian Professor “My family in Belgium have been on lockdown for almost a month, and both my siblings are at home with 1- to 3-year-olds. I've been drawing their favorite things using the Drawboard app and sending them via good old email. I've always liked to draw, and it's a fun distraction for me and for them!” -West Harlem
- Katie Allen, psychology>Katie Allen, psychology “I’m bored out of my mind and I finished all my work ahead of time, so drawing and doing puzzles is my way to keep busy. Activities are important right now to distract me from all the stressful events currently going on. It helps me find peace in my day, and helps me to just relax.” -Richmond Hill, Queens
- Matt Shi, anthropology>Matt Shi, anthropology “I've been making and releasing music for a while now. Being in quarantine has actually slowed down my musical output quite a bit. I'm most inspired by walking around outside, taking the subway, so now my motivation for making music has dropped significantly. After working on music these past few days, I feel a sense of lightness and purpose that’s been missing for a while.” -Brooklyn
Krystie Calle, media “I’ve been working on this arts and crafts mini house that I bought before the quarantine. I wanted to have a side project throughout this last semester. It’s so satisfying once you get one part done!” -Ridgewood, Queens
Theresa Vu, media and studio art“Art is an escape from the world for however long I can set aside time for it. Now that I do have time, it’s difficult to get into the right headspace. When I do get to that point, collage allows me to take images to create a unique message. It’s always mattered to me, but I could never give it the attention it requires until I’m in the studio or at home.” -Middle Village, Queens
Kierra Willis, childhood education“My boyfriend and I do an at-home paint-and-sip to pass the time and do something fun. It has always been something that I’ve always enjoyed doing so it was a way to get some normality back in my life during this crazy time.” - Starrett City, Brooklyn
Paul Frediani, Italian literature“I’ve been developing a one-man show. The story I’m developing is mostly about my father and his life as an immigrant. This matters to me because it reminds me that every generation has its challenges. It teaches me that we will overcome and these hard times won’t last. It is in these difficult times, our morals, ethics and humanity are put to the test.” -Upper West Side, Manhattan
Mahita Bandlamudi, human biology“I chose to sing because it serves as a stress reliever after studying all day long. Singing is one of the only things that matters to me right now. It’s one of the only things I’ve done even before quarantine, so I wish to continue it.” -New Hyde Park, Queens
David Pavlosky, Media/Film Advisor“The farmer’s market close to me is closed due to the pandemic, so I found these seeds from previous years in my kitchen drawer and planted them. I have a little garden outside my apartment and grow tomatoes, cantaloupes, basil, peppers, sunflowers, parsley and dill every year.” -Upper West Side, Manhattan
Julie Van Peteghem, Italian Professor“My family in Belgium have been on lockdown for almost a month, and both my siblings are at home with 1- to 3-year-olds. I've been drawing their favorite things using the Drawboard app and sending them via good old email. I've always liked to draw, and it's a fun distraction for me and for them!” -West Harlem
Katie Allen, psychology“I’m bored out of my mind and I finished all my work ahead of time, so drawing and doing puzzles is my way to keep busy. Activities are important right now to distract me from all the stressful events currently going on. It helps me find peace in my day, and helps me to just relax.” -Richmond Hill, Queens
Matt Shi, anthropology“I've been making and releasing music for a while now. Being in quarantine has actually slowed down my musical output quite a bit. I'm most inspired by walking around outside, taking the subway, so now my motivation for making music has dropped significantly. After working on music these past few days, I feel a sense of lightness and purpose that’s been missing for a while.” -Brooklyn