Sheltering

Terry Braunstein

My work primarily concerns issues of daily life and personal memory juxtaposed against the larger forces of the universe and human history. I completed Sheltering over the past six months while sheltering at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. My intent was to create the feeling of being part of a community that was advised to mostly stay at home during this health crisis. This piece aims to reinforce our shared humanity, with each of the spaces in the work depicting someone doing the best they can under the circumstances. Throughout my career as an artist I have translated my ideas into a variety of media – photography, books, installation, video, sculpture, and public art – all of which make use of photomontage. Another common thread throughout my work, regardless of medium, is what I call “visual archaeology.” The process begins in the studio with an exploration of the world through extensive research, both visual and written. This investigation then extends into the gallery, inviting the viewer to discover meaning in the work by delving into its images and associations, just as I have in creating it.