The following is a diary of sorts
chronicling the beginnings of the
COVID-19 pandemic (as I experienced it).
The captions included here are Facebook and
Instagram messages for friends and family.
12 March 2020
Everything is strange and kinda dark right now
in light of current events but for the moment school
is still in session. Until told otherwise, I’m open for
business and bringing the color, light, magic and
creativity every damn day. Here’s wishing all of
you, wherever you are or wherever you work,
all the same and more. Stay safe,
stay well and stay illuminated.
I just ran into three of my coworkers
and none of us know if our workplace will be
open tomorrow. Everything is super weird but
Debbie Harry (shot by Stephen Shore)
makes everything better
13 March 2020
This was my view on a very empty Mt. Kemble Road as I
drove to worktoday. The streets are deserted and the steady
rain is giving everything a very ghostly feel. Until told
otherwise, my fellow teachers and I are going to work
and holding down the fort for all of the students that show
up. This is uncharted, unprecedented territory for all of us
regardless of age, race or profession. Stay safe and be well,
friends. Much love to all of you and all of your families.
This was my view on a very empty Mt. Kemble Road as I
drove to worktoday. The streets are deserted and the steady
rain is giving everything a very ghostly feel. Until told
otherwise, my fellow teachers and I are going to work
and holding down the fort for all of the students that show
up. This is uncharted, unprecedented territory for all of us
regardless of age, race or profession. Stay safe and be well,
friends. Much love to all of you and all of your families.
We’re Out (For Now) #coronacation
14 March 2020
Good morning, friends. It’s a beautiful day
here and the approaching springtime is
coloring the trees with buds. Remember,
life continues to blossom and grow at ALL
times in spite of what we call “these times”.
That said, at these times, just remember that
you already have enough of everything needed
to move forward, to persevere and to
flourish. If you’re out and about today
please be patient with others who are feeling
distressed. Also, today would be a good
day to check on loved ones or far away
friends you haven’t spoken to in a while. It’s
amazing how much light a little extra kindness
can generate... not only for others but
also for yourself. Stay safe.
Is matzoh ball soup the corona vaccine?
Social Distancing Cloud
Safe And Sound • Wishing You The Same
15 March 2020
POSITIVITY POST:
Music has informed and enriched my
Music has informed and enriched my
life greatly for my entire existence. It has not only
provided a soundtrack for my life but also a context, a
cultural ballast and a sense of identity and belonging.
Music has helped me locate myself within different
communities of likeminded music lovers and in
those, I’ve made many friendships, have had opportunities
to share great artists with my loved ones and have been
afforded the privilege of witnessing countless live
displays of breathtaking artistry up close. In strange
and difficult times when we are physically distant from one
another, where events are being canceled and venues
are being shuttered, music is most definitely STILL
my friend. It’s a force for good in the world. It’s how we
hear others communicate through the magic of song
and creates an immaterial, intangible sound space
where we can lose (and even sometimes find) ourselves.
Friends, in these days of uncertainty, I encourage you
ALL to make playlists, pull out your favorite vinyls and
CDs, see if your cassette or 8 track player still works,
pick up your guitar or bongos again or sit down at the
piano. If you can’t make music, take a break from all the
insanity of the world and turn some music on. Discover
that new artist you’ve been meaning to listen to. Look
for live YouTube footage from one of your favorite artists
or a concert you attended. If you’re lucky and have a
sharp eye, you JUST might discover that you were indeed
captured in the audience (as I have a few times).
As always, be safe and stay illuminated.
Social distancing
Dunkin' - No seating
Washing crystals and rocks
19 March 2020
ECHOES OF THE TIME BEFORE: This is the first page of the
sketchbook I keep at work for students to look through. In it, I often
draw on top of collages of glued down classroom or work-related
notes. At the very start of the school year, my friend and colleague
Joe B. left a note on my desk which said “Have an amazing year
my friend! - Joe” and in appreciation I decided to work
with it on the first page of the book. I felt it would usher in
the fresh era of a new school year with good vibes. You can see
the note here beneath my colored pencil rendering of an abstract
cardboard sculpture that I’d assigned students to create.
Looking at it now, I’ll admit I’m a bit melancholy, but my resolve to
push forward is strong. Neither Joe nor I nor ANY of us could’ve
known what was to come this school year with the social distancing
and professional disconnect created by COVID-19. Like many of my
esteemed colleagues who care about what they do, Joe and I are
among MILLIONS of educators working to serve our students and
school communities as best we can during the corona virus. Many
of us are navigating digital interfaces to stay connected with staff and
students so we can continue to foster enrichment, positivity and learning.
I also believe many of us are doing so to preserve our individual and
collective sanity. To all of my colleagues... THANK YOU and I’m
with you in this. We WILL succeed. To all of my alumni in college,
I’m sorry that your school year was cut short. WE WILL ALL
GET THROUGH THIS. Not only that, we will emerge
stronger and with more wisdom. Much love to you all.
Be good to yourselves and others and stay safe!
ECHOES OF THE TIME BEFORE: This is the first page of the
sketchbook I keep at work for students to look through. In it, I often
draw on top of collages of glued down classroom or work-related
notes. At the very start of the school year, my friend and colleague
Joe B. left a note on my desk which said “Have an amazing year
my friend! - Joe” and in appreciation I decided to work
with it on the first page of the book. I felt it would usher in
the fresh era of a new school year with good vibes. You can see
the note here beneath my colored pencil rendering of an abstract
cardboard sculpture that I’d assigned students to create.
Looking at it now, I’ll admit I’m a bit melancholy, but my resolve to
push forward is strong. Neither Joe nor I nor ANY of us could’ve
known what was to come this school year with the social distancing
and professional disconnect created by COVID-19. Like many of my
esteemed colleagues who care about what they do, Joe and I are
among MILLIONS of educators working to serve our students and
school communities as best we can during the corona virus. Many
of us are navigating digital interfaces to stay connected with staff and
students so we can continue to foster enrichment, positivity and learning.
I also believe many of us are doing so to preserve our individual and
collective sanity. To all of my colleagues... THANK YOU and I’m
with you in this. We WILL succeed. To all of my alumni in college,
I’m sorry that your school year was cut short. WE WILL ALL
GET THROUGH THIS. Not only that, we will emerge
stronger and with more wisdom. Much love to you all.
Be good to yourselves and others and stay safe!
Sketchbook:
Let's light up the darkness today.
Escape Scape • Don’t Forget To Breathe
APPRECIATION POST:
Sometimes you meet the nicest
people at the darkest times. Yesterday I went to the
supermarket to gather some necessities. As I approached
the registers I was met with stanchions across the front of the
store and armed security guards. One smiled and said hello
as I waited for him to direct me to a register and I asked him
if everyone was behaving. He nodded and said yes, all was
calm and then politely pointed me in the direction of register 10.
As I loaded my items onto the conveyor belt, a very petite, elderly
nun dressed immaculately in the customary nun’s habit got online
behind me, her hands in plastic gloves. We looked at one another
knowingly, having surveyed the dark peculiarity of the scene and I
asked her if she was doing okay. She very sweetly noted the disquieting
tone of the world as well as the panic of others. We had a nice
conversation about our mutual concerns and yes, some fears about
the days ahead. I said “Sister, we will get through this if we take
care of ourselves and each other.” She agreed and as I was about
to leave the store said, “I’d like to pray for you. What’s your name?”
I told her my name was Christian and she smiled broadly, saying
“That’s a beautiful name.” She told me her name was Sister Maria
and I said “Sister Maria, I’ll pray for you too. I was very sad when I
came in here but you brightened my day greatly. Thank you! I’d like
to give you a hug but I don’t think that’s appropriate now.” Sister
Maria laughed, tipped her head in the direction of the armed guards
and said “You’d probably get arrested if you tried!” We said
goodbye laughing and I left the store with a smile on my face.
Thank you, Sister Maria. Thank you also to all who are
doing their best to make sure that we are ALL safe.
Sketchbook: Another Classroom
View From The Time Before
View From The Time Before
This is another recent page from the sketchbook
I keep at school for my students to look at.
It shows another abstract cardboard sculpture
that I assigned students to build and then draw and paint.
As I look at my ink and colored pencil rendering of the
construction and the interior of my classroom
(including my desk, shelves and some tabletop items)
I can’t help but wonder if and when my students and I
will see one another again this year. Do my 2020 classroom
sketches serve as a parting glance to a school year interrupted?
Who knows? Again, big shout out to my colleagues who are
trying to figure out how to digitally navigate this unexpected
coronavirus curveball. Much love and understanding to all friends,
family, students and alumni whose plans and lives have been
interrupted by Covid19. If art class needs to be fully digital for
the next few months, trust me... I WILL find a way to make
that happen with a combination of technology, ingenuity and
the supplies I have at home. As always, much love to all. 
Sketchbook: This colored pencil
and soft pastel drawing is sketched atop a
collage of classroom notes.
A friend and I were supposed to see
Noah Reid (AKA Patrick Brewer from Schitt’s Creek)
in concert in Brooklyn this week but Covid-19 has
understandably delayed that. He’s a great
singer / songwriter / actor and I hope to get the
chance to give him a drawing in person
when his tour starts again.
Sketchbook Study: Lakeside Dock
Here’s a recent sketch of a lake I visited one chilly
morning shortly before all of this craziness began.
Remember that you can practice social distancing but still
remain connected to the people you love. While many of us are
tending to personal needs and projects or trying to navigate
uncertain professional waters, some of us are using this time of
physical separation to text, video chat or call people we may
not have spoken to in a long time. I myself have enjoyed having
daily Facebook Live chats with family and friends and I’m always
pleased to see who pops in. It certainly seems to have lightened
the general mood for myself and others and has allowed some
of us to share insights and important information. As always,
much love to all. I’ll continue to share more sketchbook
pages as this strange coronavirus era unfolds.
Social Distancing With Annie Lennox.
Who Are YOU Social Distancing With?
Who Are YOU Social Distancing With?
19 March 1990 • 30 Years Ago Today
Violator By Depeche Mode Was
Released And Nothing Was Ever The Same
30 years ago, for some of us, the initials “DM”
meant something significant. The phrase “direct message”
didn’t exist. This was a time before before social media,
streaming, trending, hashtags, likes, retweets, reposts,
reblogs, bots, clapbacks, doxxing and traction. Clout was
something you earned by creating, not by the number of
people who lazily double tapped a photo you posted. If ever
there was a band who had earned their clout with a steady
climb throughout the 80s and 90s it was this one: Depeche
Mode. When I first heard Violator on its day of release, I was
alone in my teenage bedroom (as many of us were). It had
been nearly three years since DM had released a new LP and I
was hungry for more. The fast and furious amuse bouche provided
by the lead single Personal Jesus (released on 7” & 12” the
previous fall) was a guitar heavy stomp that exploded into
public consciousness as a surprise megahit. Its universal appeal
and popularity shocked fans and even the band members
themselves. To this day, it’s STILL the highest selling Warner Bros.
12” single (even outselling Vogue by Madonna). In cueing up
Violator for a first listen (with my grandfather hanging striped
wallpaper in the upstairs hallway just outside my bedroom door)
I had no idea what to expect from the 9 songs included
therein. Needless to say I was NOT disappointed. I won’t describe
the songs. If you know them, you already know. If you don’t,
do yourself a favor and give this album a spin. That June,
friends and I (and seemingly the ENTIRE New York / New Jersey
area) descended upon a packed Giants Stadium to see DM,
The Jesus And Mary Chain and Nitzer Ebb on what was called
The World Violation Tour. Bono from U2 was in the lighting booth
behind us. We sang U2’s “40” to him and well, he wasn’t thrilled.
He nodded at us with a withering smirk and was spirited away
by security. FUN FACT: Bono was introduced to Flood at that
show... the producer who would later shape the sound of
U2’s epochal Achtung Baby LP. Thanks, Depeche Mode...
For everything. Then, now and always.
Sketchbook studies in progress
21 March 2020
Still Life • 5:05 PM Saturday
A huge and hearty thanks to ALL who
have joined my Facebook Live Chats.
I’ve enjoyed checking in with you from my
I’ve spread some joy during a crazy time for all of us.
23 March 2020
Sketchbook: A Long Walk
Good Morning, Friends. Today my corner of the world
is being visited with rain, snowflakes and sleet... a great
deal of difference from the surprise 70 degrees I
experienced when I photographed (and later sketched)
this scene on my birthday earlier this year (January 12th).
I’m sharing it to bring everyone a little extra light and warmth,
two things which I believe are needed given the current
circumstances we are all coping with. As always, I hope all
of you are well, safe and connected to those you love.
WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER IN THE SUN AGAIN.
Sketchbook: Another View • Room B-135
This is yet another drawing I did of a student’s cardboard
sculpture on a table in my classroom. I’m glad I documented
pieces of the school year with drawings and I have to admit
that each seems to hold bittersweet sentimentality for me now.
Today I attended virtual faculty and department meetings where
all participants worked with administration to discuss, plan and share
ideas about the most constructive ways to serve our students going
forward. We don’t have a date of return yet but we are sharpening our
skills, creativity and powers of communication to teach, guide,
assess, support and interact with each and every student. If you
know me at all, you know that my life as an art educator has meant a
great deal to me. I’ve had the privilegeof sharing art with high school
students for the past 20 years. In that time, I’ve watched the world
through two sets of eyes: mine and those of an entire generation
that has passed through my classroom door. I’ve watched these
“kids” evolve into adults carrying myriad identities into myriad
life paths. That said, for the last couple of years I’ve heard the
word “influencer” described by many kids as a desirable social
status. I agree that being an “influencer” is great if one has something
of value to share. Perhaps after the events around Covid-19 have
played themselves out, the younger generation (and world in
general) will use the word differently. Some of us have been
influencers all along without seeking the temporal and fickle
immateriality of followers, likes, traction and being on trend. I am
speaking, of course, of my fellow educators. Never before have I been
more proud to be a teacher than I have since watching my colleagues
near and far snap into action in the wake of the coronavirus.
Kids, parents... Don’t worry. We got this and whether in person or
not, we are STILL present and available. Thank you for your
support and understanding. Thank you to MY teachers as well for
being the best influencers I could’ve asked for.
I’m doing my best to pay it forward in a strange new world.
I hope all of you are safe and well. Cheers, CDM.