Paper and Threads

NYC entered Phase 1 of Reopening on Monday and I planned my brief escape for a morning walk in my neighborhood - of course wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.  400,000 New York City workers were returning to jobs in manufacturing and construction - with guidelines for worker protection outlined for companies.  In addition retail stores were open for sidewalk pickup.  I walked up one Avenue and down the next for a total of 1+ miles.  I saw people walking dogs, early morning walkers, a few people who looked like they were going back to work - about 100 people in all.  Almost everyone had on masks.  But I also saw runners - who rarely wore a mask, and were running in the middle of the sidewalk, refusing to move to the side. 

Yesterday my husband and I went to Central Park and saw our daughter, one son, my daughter-in-law, and 6 of our grandkids - with 3 blankets each separated by 6 feet.  It was delightful, after months of phone calls, ZOOM, and FaceTime.  Onward....

Posted by Shirley at 6:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I was a college and medical student during the civil rights era and spent my medical career working with patients from underserved communities.  If I believed that I could protect myself and my husband from the coronavirus I would be out there protesting and marching with everyone.  I listened to Mario Cuomo's 1984 Democratic Convention speech several days ago (The Tale of Two Cities-You Tube) and it is frightening how little progress has been made since then. 

To the protesters:  Wear your masks - even though cloth masks are primarily protecting you against other people.  Social distance (>6 feet) as much as possible - this is critical.  Wash your hands or sanitize them frequently.  And don't touch your mask, face, nose, or eyes.  See link below the image for good mask information.

Since police don't seem to be wearing masks - avoid them as much as possible - 6 feet or more!!  My masked person today is faced with 3 different size coronaviruses.  Large droplets from coughing or sneezing will drop to surfaces.  Medium size coronaviruses will eventually drop, but it may take longer.  The small coronaviruses can be exhaled or released during normal speech and increase in number when using a loud voice.  There are scientific studies that demonstrate this using aerosolized particles.  Stay healthy.

Face Mask for Coronavirus: Types, Best Filters, How to Make.  

https://www.webmd.com/lung/coronavirus-face-masks  

Posted by Shirley at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Stay at Home NYC" may end soon.  Some regions of NY State are ready to move into Phase 2 of Reopening, some just started Phase 1, and if the COVID-19 Statistics remain on course we will enter Phase 1 on Monday June 8.  I have never been so happy that we live in a state where the Governor believes in scientific evidence and data determines our path.  Since New York City was the epicenter for the virus, and it spread from Europe (based on recent elegant genetic studies), we had community acquired infections before the first case was documented on March 1st.  Most came through the 3 airports - LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark.  Antibody tests show that we still have active transmission, but test, track, isolate- the golden rule for mitigation of epidemics  - may slow down spread within the City even further.  But now I'm worried about spread from the parts of the country where science means nothing!   

This is the 7th sketchbook page of my COVID-19 Drawings.  My figures are adapted from two photo books I listed several blog posts ago.  I draw on a quarter piece of scrap copy paper and use ink and watercolors to complete the drawings.  Each painting is then cut out and collaged onto a sketchbook page - frequently with a background of paste paper I made. 

Posted by Shirley at 8:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Waiting:  New York City is still in "stay at home" mode, but there were scary photos of young people standing outside restaurants drinking this past weekend when the weather was nice.  We watch Cuomo's Daily Briefing everyday and are waiting for the City to meet all of the statistics to begin a careful Phase 1 reopening.  My husband and I do stay at home except for our very brief trips to the neighborhood grocery stores before 7AM - having other groceries and drug store purchases delivered.  So my recent figure drawings are called Waiting.  The figures are collaged on a piece of paste paper I made. 

I'm listing my two artist figure drawing books below the image because I love having them as references.   

Mark Edward Smith  The Nude Figure:  A Visual Reference for Artists

Posted by Shirley at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can we even imagine when this Pandemic will be controlled?  Yesterday Gov. Cuomo began Phase 1 of his reopening plan.  This will be done by regions in the state, based on 7 Covid-19 statistics.  In Phase 1 Construction and Manufacturing can open.  Plans must be outlined and workers kept safe.  The State Government website has a dashboard for following daily health statistics, by region, and if the Rate of Infection goes above 1.0 in the next 2 weeks, closures will be reinstituted.  New York City residents will remain at home until at least 6/16. NYC's hospitalizations, and deaths are dropping, but we have an additional 3 criteria (beyond the region's criteria), that must be met before NYC can enter Phase 1.  My next figures drawn will be housebound again.  I was just happy for the people in the regions of NY State that could return to work! 

Posted by Shirley at 9:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)