ARTIST IN RESIDENCE by Franne Demetrician
Like everyone else, I’m taking the baby
insightful. I’m amazed at how life
steps necessary to move back into my
during the pandemic has changed me
“normal life”—whatever that means—in
in unimaginable ways.
the wake of more than a year and a half of lockdown and re-entry. I don’t think
One very significant change is that
I’m alone when I say that I’m hesitant
after a 25-year career as a holistic
to allow myself to fully immerse into a
health care provider, I am now a full-
maskless, hug-filled, handshaking hello
time artist and teacher. This may not
life. But I also welcome those precious
seem significant to those who have
moments of recognition that I am
been teachers and artists all along. But
indeed able to hug, shake hands, and
for me, at age 72, I have once again
even leave my mask off from time to
re-invented myself. The pandemic
time. It’s liberating.
provided me with an opportunity to shift gears and finally step into a role I have longed to inhabit.
Looking in my rearview, I see where we’ve been, and I see where I’ve been. It’s not always a fun process to rehash
Art has been one of the great passions
these last months, but it is always
of my life. For me, art-making is a 32
