{"id":157180,"date":"2020-04-14T17:27:34","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T00:27:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=157180"},"modified":"2022-08-01T11:13:45","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T18:13:45","slug":"how-does-the-outdoor-community-stay-inspired-during-social-distancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/news\/how-does-the-outdoor-community-stay-inspired-during-social-distancing","title":{"rendered":"How Does the Outdoor Community Stay Inspired During Social Distancing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s note: After a great deal of careful consideration, we temporarily closed our retail stores nationwide. Please consult the CDC<\/a> or your state health department for advice related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including information on symptoms<\/a>, testing<\/a> and how to protect yourself and others<\/a> during social distancing. Follow local guidelines regarding travel, and check access to local, state and national parks before you visit. Remember that outdoor recreation has inherent risks; don’t attempt activities beyond your experience and skill level. Your actions may present risk not only to you, but the local community during these challenging times.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

I<\/span>\u2019<\/span>ve been climbing the walls. After staying at home for nearly a month, I<\/span>\u2019<\/span>m antsy, annoyed<\/span>\u00a0and worried\u00a0<\/span>about\u00a0<\/span>a range of things, from my faraway father\u2019s laxness about social distancing to\u00a0<\/span>my income<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>M<\/span>ost of my outlets for working thro<\/span>ugh<\/span>\u00a0stress<\/span>\u2014namely big outdoor missions\u2014are unavailable right now.\u00a0<\/span>If<\/span>, like me,\u00a0<\/span>you\u2019re someone who thrives on being outside<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0these are trying times, in so many ways. To stay inspired,\u00a0<\/span>I reached out to some of my favorite artists, activists<\/span>\u00a0and athletes who are getting creative about sheltering in place<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and finding ways to stay happy, healthy and engaged. Here\u2019s what they\u2019re sharing, how they\u2019re social distancing<\/span>\u00a0and what you can gain.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MAKING ART<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Anna\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Brones<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A

Artist Anna Brones has launched the Creative Fuel Challenge to keep outdoor audiences inspired. This sketch is in response from Week 10: Change Perspective<\/a>. (Photo Courtesy: Anna Brones)<\/p><\/div>\n

At a time when we’re getting a lot of our news and inspiration from screens, cookbook author, bike advocate, papercut artist and general polymath Anna Brones is sending out a series of daily prompts that don’t involve a computer at all. Her Creative Fuel Challenge<\/a>\u00a0includes a range of exercises, like blind contour drawing and snapping photos of everyday household items.\u201c<\/span>It feels like it could be a time for people to incorporate a creative practice,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u201cArt is a way of processing, and a way to feel better. When I papercut, that’s the only time when my brain turns off.\u201d She keeps her prompts simple and steers clear of complicated materials, as she wants audiences to focus on process rather than product.\u00a0\u201cConstraints breed creativity, and I just want people to allow themselves to play,\u201d she says.\u00a0 To learn more about the Creative Fuel Challenge, click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

MaryEllen<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Hackett<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A

MaryEllen Hackett launched the Leave No Place Gallery amid COVID-19 to shine a spotlight on landscape artists she admires.\u00a0\u201c<\/span>Sticks and Stones\u201d<\/span> is one of her own paintings. (Photo Courtesy: MaryEllen Hackett)<\/p><\/div>\n

For years, artist and former park ranger MaryEllen Hackett wanted to found a brick-and-mortar art gallery, but the task seemed daunting\u2014she’d need studio space to pull in artists, and stellar artists to afford a beautiful space. But Hackett’s perspective shifted when COVID-19 hit and so many of us started spending more time online. In early April, she formed the Leave No Place Gallery, an Instagram-based gallery where she highlights the work of landscape artists she admires. It gives her peers a platform to sell their work, with a percentage of sales helping to raise money for nonprofits\u2014from search-and-rescue operations to local food banks that are struggling.\u00a0\u201cSocial media has been a way to share art, and I’m hoping it motivates artists to keep making work and pursuing the artist thing. It’s validation and motivation,\u201d she says. To learn more about Hackett, visit her website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

PRACTICING ADVOCACY<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Pattie\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Gonia<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pattie

In addition to continuing her advocacy work with a forthcoming Earth Day video, Pattie Gonia gets creative with maintaining her space during social distancing. (Photo Courtesy: Wyn Wiley)<\/p><\/div>\n

Pattie Gonia, the alter ego of professional photographer Wyn Wiley<\/a>, says she’s mourning the loss of her normal connection points during social distancing, but she’s simultaneously channeling her energy into making a crowdsourced Earth Day video, which she plans to release on Instagram on April 22. She’s asked members of her audience to submit letters of hope for humanity, and the responses\u2014in multiple languages from folks in myriad countries\u2014have so far been flooding in.\u00a0\u201cI’m not just gonna sit on my ass. I want to give my community an outlet,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u201cIt feels important to think about: What can hope look like? Joy and hope are a radical act.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As for Wiley, he says there are two ways he’s thinking about connecting while staying home. The first is figuring out how to be OK with hibernating:\u00a0\u201cYou’re home for the biggest chunk of time,\u201d he says.\u00a0\u201cHow do you create a sustainable life?\u201d The second is to prioritize small but significant actions like composting, getting outside (even for remote calls) and stepping away from the internet. Beyond these tips, he’s eager to hear what others are doing. Follow Pattie Gonia on Instagram<\/a> to share your advice.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Katie\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Bou\u00e9<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>\n
\n
View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

I drink a cuban cocktail and go wheels-off on how to recreate outdoors responsibly (or not) in the time of coronavirus.<\/a><\/p>\n

A post shared by Katie Boue\u0301<\/a> (@katieboue) on