A new age of creative freedom is showing up on the horizon with hope for the monstrous COVID-19 pandemic to end sometime this year. In the 15th and 16th centuries, an era called the Renaissance was born, which many of us grew up learning about in school. The Renaissance followed the Black Plague, which was a massive event that placed a dent in society. After the brutal plague, came a new era filled with cultural awakenings, advances in technology, medicine, and an extreme value placed on art. Along with a beckoning call to enter a new renaissance, there is a growing love for astrology in pop culture today, because of its ability to map out any repetitions of the past in our futures.
In Astrology, it is said that the study of stars has predicted 2021 to be the first year in the “Age of Aquarius,” signaling deep changes, destruction of traditional normalities, and restructuring a more vibrant, liberating culture. This goes hand in hand with the expectations we have set for this year to come and only hope to lean into our own modern renaissance.
It is said that history repeats itself, and with the novel coronavirus being the disease of the century, and forcing society to shift into making introspective changes, we could be on the cusp of another renaissance. Tons of teens are taking to social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok, to express their creativity with technology. Scientists and medical workers are finding value in their work, research, and breaking records in how fast a vaccine can be made. On top of these prominent societal advancements, many small shops and local artists have started growing their businesses and creating pieces for all to see!
Our generation is literally painting the world different colors. One Montgomery County high school resident, Hagar Eldeeb, began her art account on Instagram, showcasing and commissioning her stellar painting and digital design skills. Her account, @eldeebexhibit, is open for contact and browsing. Hagar creates eccentric portraits of herself and other celebrities using pencil, paint, and sometimes even recycled pizza boxes. Her pieces are full of vibrancy and activism intertwined. One of her ethereal portraits includes pink clouds and paper cutouts.
A Temple University student and self-taught artist, Macy Adamitis, recently created her own art account, @arts.by.mea, on Instagram. Her portfolio contains everything from fresh floral sketches and painted CDs, to a sultry painting of spilled champagne. Her account features fun time-lapses and she is open for commissions and requests. Macy has many of her works for sale on her Etsy shop, and has a recurring theme of divine feminine energy. One of my personal favorites is an abstract “Free the nip,” watercolor piece.
In our college town itself, West Chester University is sharing more pieces of their Arts and Humanities program through their Instagram account, @artsatwcu. From pottery to experimental projects, the school is embracing change through student invention and creation. Recent posts on the account feature professors’ own projects like handmade mallets for the class ART 231, and exhibits in Baker Gallery.
These are just a few of the multiple accounts, small shops, and classes, popping up during the current stay-at-home routine. Using social media sites to activate artistic expression in a post-apocalyptic time frame is completely freeing. After facing especially difficult societal devastations and major personal changes, art is clearly on the brink of new discovery. Change, as people have doubtlessly proven over time, can be good. Picking up a new hobby can be what saves someone’s life, whether they turn to painting, sculpting, business, or even astrology. Through outlets like these, and the artistic tool that is online social media outlets, we should be looking forward to more art when entering this new renaissance.