Cycle of Life
Berat Bajrami, Kosovo
Painting Title: Cycle of Life; Artist: Berat Bajrami, Kosovo; Project: The Breathing Project / Cities of Peace Illuminated
The telling of what happened
“A young woman, 21 years old, infected with COVID-19 who is eagerly waiting to receive the sacred title - Mother, ends her life just at the moment when she expects to give birth to her baby, and a "doomed" newborn baby who has to live without her mother, cried constantly as if she had realized her misfortune”, Albana Krasniqi, neonatologist.
Concept
“Death makes me appreciate life more! This is a painting to honor the dead, and cherish the new life”.
“Cycle of Life” – creation process
This concept is presented in the visual aspect through an Illyrian fibula in a spiral shape, which represents the cycle of life - birth and death.
It is placed in the center of the painting. Divided by two contrasting colors that meet in the middle of the fibula, at the bottom of the painting there is a color with a dark tone (blue and dark), while it is enriched with abstract signs to honor the life of the victim, and an integral part is the color white to honor the moments of joy of the victim.
The rest of the painting is furrowed with a light color to celebrate the coming to life of the child, whose future is expected to be filled with events over the coming years.
The unifying element of the mother with the baby is the umbilicus, through which the baby is kept alive inside the womb. It is presented through a circular line from top to bottom of the fibula, as an element that occupies space in both lives - mother and child.
And the only events that has occurred to the baby life are: her birthday and the death of the mother. These two events are represented in the painting with the two spots: black and white on top of the fibula.
Transformation and Healing Hope, Compassion, Science
Suzanne Wind Gaskell
Transformation and Healing Hope, Compassion, Science
Suzanne Wind Gaskell
Dedicated to the Staff at Gilead Community Services
Whose selfless actions and compassion were exemplified as they worked to protect our most under served and vulnerable from Covid 19.
By mid-April 2020, the pandemic had rapidly spread in the tri-state region. The staff at Gilead Community Services, a non-profit mental health provider in Middlesex County, Connecticut, was stretched thin as 20 percent of its caregivers were in quarantine after exposure to colleagues who had contracted the coronavirus from infected clients.
Joe Crispino, an ACT (Assertive Community Treatment) team member was quick to offer support and hope to individuals living with a mental illness. He was also the first Covid positive case to be admitted to Middlesex Hospital. Within days of his admission, Joe’s condition worsened; twice he went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. Miraculously, on April 21, after nearly four weeks on a ventilator Joe was transferred from the hospital to a rehabilitation center were his long recovery continued. As a testament to Joe’s indomitable spirit and the culture at Gilead Community Services, he has returned to work on behalf of others.
Symbols
The underlying geometry in this work forms the “flower of life” an ancient symbol of unity, created by the intersection of six overlapping circles.
The hands (symbolic of community) demark the periphery of the mandala and serve to protect the mind, body and spirit represented within.
The dominant design at its center is a cross section of a brain to represent mental health. The brain’s interior structure suggested a butterfly; it’s symbolic of transformation. Beneath the butterfly, a kneeling human figure represents our inner self.
After having completed the drawing of the brain, I was caring for my father who was dying of cancer. He pointed to each lung and his head to show me where the cancer had spread. I proceeded to illustrate the lungs. George Floyd’s final plea, ”I can’t breathe”, Covid-19 and my father’s death intersected in this symbol for the Breathing Project and Hope.
Outside the mandala, is the invisible world inhabited by the threat of the novel coronavirus, represented in each corner. A pair of Y-shaped, antibodies flanks each virus.
From Middletown, Connecticut the constellation Ursa Minor was present in the predawn sky on Friday, March 13th, the last day before “Shelter in Place” orders went into effect. Through the Covid lens, the inequities in society have come into focus. This piece is intended to celebrate the brave people who give generously of themselves for the benefit of others.
Hope for a better tomorrow, realized through Compassionate Action and
Science aimed at Healing.
Time is now
Rilind Sadiku
We are all connected, and we need strong lidership that takes care for all of us. The boat is sinking and we need to survive.
What’s new – Artwork Preliminary study
Ani Manana
In this painting, I want to capture two stories of two incredible women who work in the healthcare system in the US. I was left speechless from the way, they handled these hardships. Both of them are incredibly brave and inspiring young women. This painting will depict upon the lesson they taught me – how they effortlessly go through the continuous struggle of our current given time.
