Pan-Epic:
Reimagining Art and Fashion in the Time of Pandemic
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Seven-year-old, Zoya Baloch prepares to treat coronavirus patients on her driveway amidst the 2020 pandemicState College, PA
Viral Low Down
In the wake of the 2020 coronavirus, thousands of people around the world quickly fashion together makeshift masks and protective clothing. Unable to purchase coveted face coverings, that were all too recently deemed useless to those outside the medical field, people of all ages scrounge the world wide web for bits and pieces to construct shields to protect themselves from the global pandemic that scorges the land. Many pull out their sewing machines, gathering elastic cording pipecleaners and small scraps of fabric to construct masks from simple patterns available online. Sitting in sweatpants and pajamas, what appeared to be a mere "15 Days to Control the Spread" quickly turns into 20, 30...40...
In complete isolation, some alone, some within relatives and others amongst provisional families, the hegemonic: the normative, seem to matter somewhat less and creativity flourishes in this age of survival. Society pressures regarding appearance subside.
This blog contains the fashion diary during the age of contagion. It features the inspiration, evolution, and efforts toward acceptance of the strange and unthinkable as the everyday, but never mundane.
In complete isolation, some alone, some within relatives and others amongst provisional families, the hegemonic: the normative, seem to matter somewhat less and creativity flourishes in this age of survival. Society pressures regarding appearance subside.
This blog contains the fashion diary during the age of contagion. It features the inspiration, evolution, and efforts toward acceptance of the strange and unthinkable as the everyday, but never mundane.
APRIL 3:
Celebrations
Despite "Stay at Home" orders across the United States, people come together to celebrate birthdays and mark memorable occasions. As part of a birthday party parade for 6-year-old, Zeke Garcia, cars drove by his home, adorned in a variety of decorations. Other "car parade goers" wore creative costumes, inspired by both the occasion and the circumstance.
APRIL 8: Inside Out or Outside In
GaGa for Scarves
Wearing a silk facemask from Pamase, purchased months prior to the outbreak, Zoya dances through the eerily still apartments on Vairo Boulevard to her favorite Lady Gaga hits. Despite the changing season, the pandemic seems to persist. However, relief can be found in capri pants, comfy ponchos and sunshine.
S'more Time Inside
Roasting marshmallow over an indoor s'more maker, Zoya brings the outdoors indoors and in style. Wearing an Ecuadorian poncho purchased at the Nittany Mall, she can only fantasize about global travel, limited to the foot travel of her own neighboorhood. Though the cyber world seems to have grown closer together, citizens during the pandemic grow physically further apart.
APRIL 14: Idea Development
Mask Version 1: This mask was scribbled out out because Zoya was dissatisfied with the shape of the feather.
Fashion Design Begins...
Although we were enthusiastic to start designing our quarantined fashion, Zoya was not thrilled about the idea of designing masks that covered the bottom portion of our noses and faces. Zoya had become frustrated with our walks around the neighborhood in which I required her to dawn one of several facemasks. She found them annoying, difficult to breathe in and irritating. It was not surprising, that she resisted the creation of this very item in our fashion design. Zoya suggested designing an eye mask like "what you see on TV" and "super heroes wear." I asked Zoya if she wanted to create a superhero mask and she replied that she did not. "I want to create a fancy mask," she said. "I want to be stylish."
Designing my style...
Rather than simply imagining a costume from which we could leave our home in quarantine to venture safely outside, our project shifted to imagining ourselves as "fancy girls" inside of our quarters. Zoya is interested in designing clothing that is colorful and sparkly.
Let's get started!
Eager to get started, it was challenging to get Zoya to draw out a plan or design. Zoya explained her process, saying that she did not want to commit to a plan but see how she felt about the design once she was building with the cardboard, paint, glitter and lace. Reluctantly, Zoya created a rough draft, including a colorful purple mask, blue dress and dots representing sequins.
Zoya Teaches Mask Making
The Birth of
"Moonlight Bad Kitty"
Zoya spent hurried thorugh Math and Writing assignments on the morning of Thursday, April 16 to continue construction of her "Bad Kitty" mask. The mask quickly evolved into an entire costume design. Zoya was very particular about the details of her design. Though I aided Zoya in construction of the mask, the design was soley hers.
Me-OUCH
Zoya completed her kitty mask with black eyeliner and whiskers using puffy paints. She chose white lace to go across the mask. Zoya was very particular regarding the black puffy paint used for eyeliner. She didn't want it to stick up or look "too chubby." The whiskers also had to be perfectly symmetrical. Zoya became very upset when the left side of her match did not match the right perfectly (whiskers) and we needed to adjust it using white puffy paint. Zoya's gloves were made to resemble "Disney's Descendants." She added her own twist by making them into kitty paws by cluing colored felt to create prints.
Doggy Walks with Bad Kitty
When my glue gun broke while gluing, Zoya asked if she could have it as a weapon. Though I was somewhat hesitant to permit her to have a "gun," I decided to allow if after having a discussion about the danger of real guns. Zoya's started to develop the character of "Moonlight Bad Kitty," who is a kitty that lives on the moon in "Purple Space" and jumps down to steal gems. She carries around a little tie sack to steal gems in. Moonlight Bad Kitty does not need to worry about coronavirus because she carries soapy water balloons which she can throw to destroy it.
Work in Progress
Zoya is currently working on the construction of a tail, along with sparkly flip flop shoes. She is working on designing a dress for her character, but we are a bit short on fabric. Our dog, Ember, is scared of Moonlight Bad Kitty. Moonlight Bad Kitty did not argue with me about wearing her protective face mask outside as my daughter, Zoya typically does. When asked to describe Moonlight Bad Kitty, Zoya responds that she is both evil and very cute.
Slippers
Zoya designed house slippers for Moonlight Bad Kitty using cardboard, fabric, sparkly pipecleaners and glitter. Despite the fact that the shoes are a bit large, she insisted on wearing them around the house.
Home Improvements
After Zoya's grandmother (Nani) ordered a little house from the Makery in downtown State College, we spent our time designing a home for a tiny teddy bear. Zoya decided that we should create peach walls (like in our home, but more dramatic).
An Art Studio
for a Bear
We are working on designing an art studio for this little bear, including the creation of shelves. This chair was meant to replicate our living room chair and is made from cardboard, fabric and hot glue. Zoya created the table from cardboard, fabric and pushpins.
April 22: Knitting
Looming Curiosities
I have been purchasing "prizes" that Zoya can earn based on good behavior during our extended time at home. Zoya can earn "gems" each day (for doing schoolwork, cleaning toys, making her bed, respect and etiquette/manners) to buy items in our imaginary store. Zoya often helps select prizes to order off Amazon with me and I put them in my "prize box" until she has enough gems to earn them. This is a hat knitting kit that Zoya purchased with her gems.
Finito!
Zoya worked very diligently to create her hat using a plastic loom, with little assistance from me. I was please that she was able to work independently on her craft while listening to stories on "Epic" on her school-provided chromebook. On the day that the first photo is taken, Zoya is listening to books about Ramadan and Black Holes. I am working on papers for Penn State. Zoya asks me to check her work each time she makes a circle around the loom, before beginning the next. I was amazed that Zoya was able to create her hat in only 3 days. Her level of focus and consentration throughout the activity was remarkable for a first grader.
Painting Projects Emerge
APRIL 25: Zoya and I started painting rocks outside on the grass. Zoya picked white, blue and purple colors to match the sky. When she accidentally dropped some paint on her old shoes, I suggested she paint them too. "Really??" she asked me. "Sure, why not," I replied, reminding her that she needs my permission to paint on shoes in the future. Zoya made me promise not to tell her grandmother (Nani) she had painted on her shoes because she was worried that she would think she was a bad girl. I told her it was ok to paint them because she has her mom's permission. Zoya reminded me that her grandmother is my mother and she would not be happy with the activity. We plan to decorate the shoes so they can look like something that "Moonlight Bad Kitty" would wear.
Eye Makeup: New Styles
I have begun experimenting with my new quarantine look. I have started taking baby-steps using purple and white eyeliner and heavy brow pencil. My mother has started wearing wigs because she doesn't want anyone to see the "roots" of her hair, even in her own home. I am curious if this our masked lives continue, how make up will evolve. Perhaps Americans will find inspiration on the beautiful eye make up of the Arab world.
We ARE...
Zoya surprised me on the morning of May 4, by getting dressed up as a Penn State cheerleader (most likely inspired by Zombies II, featuring Cheerleaders and Zombies). Zoya asked me to help her fix her hair in high ponytail and a large white bow. She was most interested in wearing "cheerleader make up." Zoya is not usually permitted to wear make up other than lip gloss. However, at this time, we broke the rules. After math and writing lessons, Zoya used her "recess" time to recieve a makeover. She selected purple liquid eyeliner, purple eyeshadow, blush and red lipstick. Zoya asked me to teach her cheers from my high school years throughout the day, of which R-O-W-D-I-E, was her favorite. We practiced stretching together and got some much needed exercise.
Kitty Galore Beauty Salon
On the morning of May 5, Zoya was inspired to create a beauty salon for her little animals, "Little Scrubbies." The Little Scrubbies can be decorated with marker and washed up in a plastic bathtub, providing endless hours of entertainment. Zoya and created the hair salon collaboratively using a cardboard box. We created mirrors using aluminum foil and plastic gems. The chairs are constructed out of cardboard, fabric and pipecleaners. The floor design is wrapping paper. Zoya is expecially interested in creating blow dryers to attach to the salon chairs using pipecleaner and aluminum foil. We plan to continue to create this mini environment over the next week.
The
As the days go by, Zoya and I continue to adapt to our new way of life. I no longer struggle to get Zoya to put on a mask to go outside. While our daily rules regarding fashion and appearance get more relaxed. The regulations surrounding behavior seem to be more strict.
New
Though I no longer dictate Zoya's outfit's for school or worry about how she will appear to others, I notice that my parenting style has become stricter in order to tackle the role of teacher. Though Zoya misses her friends, she is thriving academically and creating fantastic imaginary worlds with her artwork.
"Normal"
I have also noticed that Zoya is playing with her toys again, that often went untouched for weeks at a time during the busy hustle and bustle of the school week and extracurriculars. I often find her sitting inside her closet, playing movie theatre to read comics on her chrome book or talking to her stuffed animals or Ember, our dog.
As packages arrive for a wedding, that I am scheduled to be a bridesmaid in in October, I wonder if I will even wear the dress I have purchased. I resist asking the bride about contingency plans. I wonder what the new normal will be, how long it will last and what effects of this pandemic will linger in our society. I will treasure this time to explore and play with my daughter, and enjoy a special time that I had thought was lost forever when she left for kindergarten.
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