In some ways, this period of solitude has felt to me like a creative reinterpretation of what I imagine life may have been like for some people several decades ago. When I conjure up the image of half-empty subway cars or wander through quiet streets where no sound is louder than birdsong, I think about how it feels like we are collectively traveling back in time to a moment in history when the pace of life might have been slower and softer for many. When social hubs were local, rather than digital, and we actually knew our neighbours. When there were far lower levels of sound and air pollution to contend with, and we were less beholden to the tyranny of quantifiable productivity. A time when, at least in my imaginings, we had more awareness of and empathy for one another's suffering. In this collage kit, I've created and collected imagery that represents the way I see the world now: as being, somehow, a relic of the rose-tinted past.

 

We recommend printing these pages out so you can use good old-fashioned scissors and glue to do some arts and crafts. When you're done, send a photo or a scan of your artwork to hello@nearnessproject.com. Happy collaging!