Artist Karen Finley responded to the turmoil of March 2020 by creating art, focusing on found materials to express societal chaos. Her latest publication, 'COVID Vortex Anxiety Opera Kitty Kaleidoscope Disco,' blends her observations on trauma with illustrations to foster a gentler reading experience. Drawing on her past experiences with the AIDS epidemic and 9/11, Finley emphasizes resilience against loss and the importance of maintaining humanity and joy through creative expression, resulting in a reflection on contemporary America that is both intimate and accessible.
"I asked myself, 'What can I do?' And I started creating art. It became this subversive act, like graffiti."
"Reading a book is intimate, you're by yourself. I thought the illustrations would be a little extra gentleness or tenderness."
"I have a lot of experience in these matters. Not that I'm proud of that, but I realized I could refuse to let the losses take away my own humanity and joy."
"The book is a companionable document of increasingly chaotic and troubling realities of 21st century America."
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