REGULA RUSSELLE

Over the span of several months, I studied the theme of Hope During the Pandemic as a member of the Interfaith Artist Circle. During this time, scholars and religious teachers visited with us to share their knowledge and thinking.

At that time I made a zine to record my learnings. Click here for the free zine, and here for instructions on how to fold and make an 8-page zine.

When Rabbi Kravitz asked “What is your image of hope?” the only words that came to me were a Quaker saying, “Way will open.” But how can that be visualized?

I settled on the image of a murmuration.

Characteristics of a Murmuration:

*  hundreds and sometimes a few thousand birds move together into uncertain territory

*  each bird relates to the seven birds most nearby

* in this way, they form a dynamic, cohesive whole as if they become a new being

( like music, like a line dance )

*  like voices finding other voices
*  like hands finding other hands

You might wish to check out MPR NEWS; Swooping Starlings in Murmuration.

’I’ve also made a cut paper lantern meant to evoke — in a very modest way — the wonder of a murmuration. This works best when the lantern is placed on a sunny window sill. There, the changing light casts shadows and creates movement over time.