The Art of Being Human

In 2020, the world was tipped upside down and shaken in ways we could barely have imagined, except perhaps in the post-apocalyptic and dystopic worlds of story. Amidst pandemic illness and death, political machinations and despair, one of the casualties has been, at least in a financial sense, the Arts. Governments across the world have slashed funding, galleries, theatres and entertainment venues have closed amid lockdown restrictions, money is being carefully metered with jobs more uncertain than ever, meaning our creatives across all industries are suffering. And yet, more than ever, we are turning to art to stay sane in lockdown, to keep our spirits up in isolation, and to remind us that despite the hardship, there is beauty in this world.

This anthology seeks to remind readers of the hope and beauty of the Arts, and the way our engagement with writing, music, film, theatre, artworks in all media, and craft of all kinds are at the core of our humanity.

If the time since COVID began to dominate our global society has taught us anything, it is that connection is crucial to our wellbeing. These stories speak to hope, connection, community, and yes, ART, and how important these threads are to the very centre of ourselves.

Table of Contents

“Pieced together” by K G Anderson
“Birdsong” by Joanne Anderton
“The world has gone silent” by Joyce Chng
“The ocean, the lighthouse keeper and the sunset” by Lee Cope
“The library” by Helen Vivienne Fletcher
“The icecutter’s daughter” by Aiki Flinthart
“Neuro” by Ephiny Gale
“Everyday wonder” by Valerie Hunter
“A trail of blue paper flowers” by Nikoline Kaiser
“Spools of silk, shards of stone” by Karin Landelius
“Drawing blood” by Gerri Leen
“Greatheart” by Juliet Marillier
“That feeling when you ask me to dance” by Cara Mast
“Seeding trouble” by Kirstyn McDermott
“Among the faded woods” by Faith Mudge
“Exposure” by Jason Nahrung
“The light in the attic, the bones in the earth” by Spencer Nitkey
“The maiden, the statistician, and the architect” by Steve Quinn
“She is not in heaven” by Rivqa Rafael
“All dressed up for the death trade” by Tansy Rayner Roberts
“The mask makers” by Kristi Ross
“When silence speaks” by Spencer Sekulin
“Everything so slow and quiet” by Kaaron Warren
“The poet’s tale” by Suzanne J Willis