March 2020 marked the beginning of so many changes. Plans became undone and either postponed, re-imagined or cancelled entirely. The global pandemic of Covid -19 required a great shift on every level. Many people have lost their livelihoods and their social support structures. Everyone has had a marked change in the schedules and passage of their days.
Personally, my extensive travel and teaching plans for the year needed to all be re-examined and big decisions made on what to do next. By this time, just 10 weeks later, I would have been returning home from working in the Netherlands, Scotland and Iceland. I was aware of the massive shift that needed to happen and also the constant uncertainty that everyone was feeling at that time- none of us could foresee how much life would change. It was clear though that having opportunities to create, without pressure, and to connect more and be supported by others online would be very important. I set up a full range of inexpensive online workshops, created more scholarship opportunities to make online learning more accessible, and set up a creative members challenge.
On March 27th, 2020, I sent out a creative challenge to everyone who has previously taken one of my workshops. We have a very strong and supportive group on Facebook, and this became our meeting place to discuss ideas and check in with one another, as we worked on pieces related to the theme, Separate yet Connected.
Participants were encouraged to explore the theme literally working with images and ideas that resonated with them, or metaphorically, working through how they were feeling, reacting and responding to their new and ever-changing circumstances. They could choose to explore the theme on a personal, familial or societal level.
This challenge was about making something tangible, setting aside some time to work with our hands, being together, if only digitally, and supporting one another through our creative process. It was open to all levels of experience. The only rule was to not let the making add any pressure or stress to our days or creative time but to enjoy this shared process and connection.
The work was all made in an eight week period from March 27th, to May 22nd, 2020, when all participants were living in some form of self-isolation, sheltering-in-place or lockdown.
It is a wonderful, diverse, heartwarming collection. Please do take some time to view the work HERE:
Separate yet Connected :: Online Catalogue
This project has been a huge pleasure to work on! Thank you to everyone for taking part and supporting one another!
Some of the participants reflect on their experience in the Separate yet Connected project:
It was very therapeutic to have the opportunity to create something tangible. For me the best bit is to feel connected yet again with your felters whom I have encountered in the past: reassuring and inspiring to see everyone’s work!
-Mia Hartgroves
It would have been easy to become overwhelmed and dysfunctional with the constant barrage of global Pandemic information, but instead this was the time to let my hands think for me. The challenge was issued, the deadline was clear and it was a huge relief to just get lost in the calming visualization of the felting process.
-Sandra Barrett
The united voice of creative felters from all over the world has helped me to endure the social distancing and present uncertainty of the future. We are all in it together expressing our feelings in colour and fellowship.
-Eva Helgesson
I have been grateful to have this challenge to push me into uncomfortable territory. It has been a positive way to grow during this fraught time. The support of my fellow felters has made me feel very connected to the outside world.
-Betsy Vaden
Working on this challenge over the past nine weeks – while in isolation from most of my community and the wider world – provided a thread of connection to my felting community. It was comforting and stabilizing to know we were all working on a common goal together, in our own ways, with a unique end result that we can all share.
-Tuula Talvila
I am most grateful for the journey this challenge inspired. It pushed my boundaries personally and creatively, providing focus at a time of profound unbalance and supporting a global connection among kindred spirits.
-Kathleen Drinkwater
I thoroughly enjoyed a constructive goal to work towards. It was also wonderful to connect with others around the world, working on their challenge and feeling in a similar predicament. So unifying.
-Coral Phillips
I think it’s amazing, Fiona, how you have joined this group of fiber artists in this one of a kind online exhibition. In a matter of a few weeks time you have encouraged us all to create fiber art to represent the Separate Yet Connected theme. Like minded (connected) individuals (separate) Thank you for your vision and leadership.
-Deb Koesters
When I saw the first post about the challenge I got excited and was looking forward to learning more about it. Three days before the challenge opened I lost my father and because of the world being in lock down I was not able to be there for him. This has “coloured” all of my days since and most likely it will be like this for a while.Trying to focus on this challenge has been difficult and I was not at all sure that I would end up making a piece. But I did I and I am grateful for being able to be part of this colourful and creative community during these strange and uncertain times.
-Maria Holst Salomonsen
I am so happy I decided to take the leap and be a part of this online exhibition. The following comments are a result of a spark you decided to take on. Always generous, thoughtful and kind you are. 
At the start of this challenge I felt at a loss as to how to express my feelings. Right away I decided to look for support from this lovely group and I had so many wonderful suggestions that got my mind to think it though. As I worked with the wool my thoughts poured into the project and my ideas just evolved into something I feel expresses my feelings during this pandemic. As the weeks went on I perfected the construction of my piece and each time it helped me process a deeply sad place for those affected and fighting the fight.
-Leslie Cervenka
This challenge was instrumental in forcing us, as artists, to look beyond our isolation, to a world where we supported one another. Rather than being caught in a cycle of introspection, we pushed through the walls our imposed physical limitations to create pieces that celebrates our very human bonds.
-Liza Hageraats
