During the Quarantine
2020
93 glass containers, 4 cardboard cylinders, 34 plastic containers, 56 tin cans, and 283 aluminum cans all hand painted white
These recyclable materials were consumed and collected by the artist and her husband while they sheltered in place during the state of emergency for COVID-19 from March to June 2020. The accumulation of used containers serves as a poignant marker of time during the lockdown months. By painting the recyclable materials, the artist found a therapeutic focus that alleviated some of the fear and feelings of helplessness experienced during the quarantine. The artist created different installations within the apartment she and her husband lived in during the lockdown and photographed each environment.
The sculpture was destroyed in 2021 and lives on in the photographed installations.
This installation was displayed by the Frederick Arts Council in their pop-up gallery from August 29th, 2020, through January 2nd, 2021. The artist reconfigured the installation monthly, bringing new perspectives and evolutions to the work.
The Essentials
2022 - 2023
The essentials during the COVID lockdown varied greatly by household. These items ranged from food to entertainment to cleaning products. They were items that allowed people to sustain life as well as occupy their time. For many, ordering items that were typically purchased in stores became a widespread practice. This trend has continued, and ordering essential items online has now become more a way of life.
The installation is a collection of packaging from store-purchased and ordered items over the span of one year. The artist began collecting just after the birth of her daughter, born during an Omicron variant spike in January 2022. As new parents navigating the pandemic, she and her husband chose to order more of their immediate needs to limit their exposure risks. This unintentional collection grew and took shape as their essentials evolved.
This body of work was initially displayed and fabricated for Gallery 194 at the Chesapeake Arts Center and has been reimagined for the Whitaker Gallery Space.
Deliveries
2024
The sculptures are constructed from cardboard packages delivered to Owad’s home between January and June 2024.
Each piece is uniquely fabricated from a single month’s collection of cardboard, capturing a snapshot of that period. One side of each box is painted in stripes, emphasizing the importance of the items within, while the raw cardboard remains exposed on the other side. This dynamic interplay between the painted and natural surfaces symbolizes the equal significance of both the delivery and receipt of these packages. The sculptures illustrate how these seemingly mundane deliveries forged a vital bridge between people who might never have interacted otherwise, yet whose actions became essential in supporting each other’s existence during these unprecedented times.
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