Tag: COVID

Festivals and Contests

Do you know of any festivals or contests that artists can enter right now? Let me know so I can add them!

ENGAGE Art Contest Deadline June 30

This contest was in place before COVID but it’s theme from Ephesians is so fitting for the strange time we are in. Thousands of dollars in prizes are being given out. Submissions are free, and they have an app that sends you Scripture verses of encouragement every day

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Kataro Festival Deadline May 21

Kataro is unique in that every artist that submits is going to get the same percentage of the profits. This is not about competing it is about collaboration.

The theme of Kataro is “waiting” and it was made in response to the time of waiting we all seem to be in now. Submissions are free!

https://facebook.com/events/s/kataro-a-virtual-creative-fest/3433392876690752/?ti=icl

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#Throughfire

As Quarantine began, the community led by Catholic Creatives exploded with innovators inspired to help others through their struggles. We faced our own giants of fear and trepidation, but something in us drove us to community and fellowship. My desire was to fill social media with art to help with the constant deluge of news all over our feeds. I went to Catholic Creatives who had a similar desire and together we launched the #throughfire.

We asked that you create art and share it on every form of social media. Now, the quarantine is at an awkward point of being kind of over but not really, and #throughfire is changing. Catholic Creatives must get back to their daily projects, so suzannagoretti.com will be the new home for the project. I will be sharing your art and hopefully getting to talk to you as you create it. I hope to get all kinds of projects involved so we can all see how many of us are joining together to walk through fire hand in hand.

Please continue to share your amazing works, so that we can keep this fire going. Thank you for all you are doing to bring Beauty to the darkness.

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For the Jen Fulweiler’s of the Quarantine

Dear Jen Fulweiler’s of the Quarantine,

You all requested that if we are living our best life in quarantine you need us to lie, because you are struggling.

Here’s some truth, I’m not doing well. Not today. I was living my best life in quarantine, but the end of it is coming and I am falling apart. I suck at everything about capitalism and the type of motherhood that comes with it. I may have thrived with my husband home, but my thriving is about to be done. In approximately three and a half days, I go back to sucking at life.

The truth is, I do not have it all together, not even a little bit. I had it all together for a little while because I wasn’t alone. I had someone to bounce my crazy thoughts off, someone to encourage me when I was feeling low, or take over when I need to tap out. In those conditions, I can be a rockstar, I can soar and touch the clouds.

Alone? Alone I have a patience gene the size of non existence. Alone I make it through the day with desperate prayers and tv cuddles. Alone I am at the mercy of the toddlers and my own physical well-being that day. There’s no one to tap out to if my head feels like it is splitting open if it’s own accord, or if all I can do is grit my teeth to not scream at the 100th toddler shriek.

In three days, my darkness begins again. I’ll be ok because Jesus will be with me, but it is so freaking hard to be alone with toddlers all the time. I can’t go to my car to find the quiet, I can’t stop. I just keep going.

So yeah, I may have lived my best life in quarantine, but in the grand scheme of things quarantine was only a few weeks, and I really needed that win.

Love,

Me

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Write Where it Hurts: Quarantine

Quarantine.

For some of you it’s a dirty word.

For some it’s despair.

For some it’s loss and grief incomparable.

For me? It’s life.

For me, it was hope.

For me, it was a home

With incandescent joy and bliss.

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Stay: For those in Isolation

Dear Friend,

You are lonely tonight. 

When the rest of us cheered

Delighted at time away,

Your heart quaked in fear.

You were faced with isolation,

Alone with yourself,

You are haunted by your demons. 

I have fought that dark fight 

When night seems endless

I begged for release and screamed

While no one could hear.

Please, friend, be patient.

Stay with me.

I’m here. 

Here in the deep, 

you are not alone. 

I am reaching out my hand to you.

Touch me.

Let you fingers linger on mine,

As I tenderly stroke yours.

I will sing to you tonight,

Whatever is your favorite song.

Lay your hand in mine,

Let me hold your weary bones. 

Stay.

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Ask God For the Miracle

Dear God, Abba, Daddy,

Help us. We have screwed up as a people in so many ways. We have been lost, we have been confused, and we have been selfish. We are afraid.

God. Help us.

We have turned from those who needed our help. We have not seen who needed us. We have been harder on ourselves than we should be. We have pushed ourselves and our families to the breaking point. We have neglected those in need.

God help us.

We have lost the art of resting in you. We have left your arms and protection. We have acted as if we have the strength to brave this world without you.

God help us.

In our confusion and fear, we have turned from you. Maybe without knowing it, maybe knowing it deep down, maybe knowing it with no doubt. We have turned from you. We turn back to you now. Jesus, take us by the hand to the Father.

Abba, Daddy, help us.

We have been wounded, we have been afraid, we have been angry, we have been lost. We have been lonely. God, we need you.

Abba, Daddy, help us.

We have felt betrayed because of those who follow you, you know that pain.

We have felt your wrath because all we have seen is wrath, you heard our cries.

We have cowered in fear of you, because we were afraid of you, you came to show us not to be afraid.

God, we are full of fear this lent, it is dark, and scary. We turn to you, like a baby runs to their father and mother and we beg for you to keep us safe. Hold us in your arms, comfort us, soothe our fears and keep us safe. Protect us from what is scary in the world, and dry our tears.

God, you ask penance for what we have done, and we are trying, we are willing, but please have mercy on us. Please accept our small sacrifices and little offering of our struggles and make the most of them. Mary offer our struggles, joys, and daily efforts to God for us every moment of everyday.

Please help us, God, don’t turn your face from us. We love you, please hold us in your arms. Protect us Lord, heal the world you created for your Love. We rest the world at your feet and ask for your will, May your kingdom come.

We believe that you want the good for us, and you need only say the word.

By the power of the precious blood of Jesus, by Mother Mary’s love for her children, by St. Joseph’s sweet tenderness, God forgive us our sins, and heal us from the damage that mankind’s sin has done.

Amen.

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