Houston, Texas
Satellites Art Project: Bill Ferenc
The Project
In 2020, United By Design and Folding Chair collaborated to start a series of art projects to share experiences of individual artists during a period of isolation amidst the Covid pandemic. We asked Bill to create a piece of art that expressed his sentiment during the Shelter-In-Place lockdown order. This is what he created.
Artist:
Bill Ferenc
Project Type:
Animation
Location:
Houston, TX
There was a time when citizens were ordered to stay indoors
We all remember when the CDC and US Government advised millions of people to stay at home and avoid any non-essential travel. Looking back, it all seemed so sudden when citizens were ordered to head home and stay away from others.
Our daily lives were changed in an instant. People were forced to rethink and change the way they lived. No more social gatherings. No more workplace chit-chat. No more trips to the grocery store. Our need for social interaction was being challenged and emotional states were being tested.
Photo by Ross Sneddon
Within a month, a realization that there was no sight in end for the shelter-in-place order became more apparent. Our time away from friends and loved ones was starting to take a toll on our daily lives. The way we worked, went to school, and interacted with each other began to change.
WFH became a daily practice for most of us and learning from home for college students and children was being rolled out nationwide. Demand for essential workers like healthcare professionals, first responders, and utility employees grew as they put their lives at risk for the sake of keeping people safe and secure. Things seemed on edge and it seemed that the color and brilliance of life was beginning to dull.
The city streets were empty and tensions at home were rising high
photo by @bp_miller
Creativity cannot be contained when there are stories to be told
The streets were empty and roadways were only being used to travel for essential work and necessities. For United By Design and muralists around the world, that meant that work was out of sight. Self-expression and creativity have long served as a way to share our sentiments and connect with others – and we needed to find a way to continue that.
UXD connected with Folding Chair, an initiative creating experiences to confront cultural repression and explore emotional labor, to collaborate on an art project positioned to work with artists and share their experiences and artwork created during social distancing.
Our first Satellites Art Project collaboration was with graphic designer and artist, Bill Ferenc. We asked Bill to create an artwork that spoke to his experiences during isolation and record the process and thought behind his creation. Shot during the initial lockdown, much of his sentiments resonate with many of us today. This is what he created
video by José Rodriguez | @myeyesadjust
Bill Ferenc
graphic designer & illustratorBill Ferenc was born and raised in a small town south of Detroit called Wyandotte, Michigan. He studied art, illustration, and design at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design before moving to Houston in 2016 to be closer to his boyfriend, Martin.
Bill is currently the Senior Graphic Designer and illustrator at Black Sheep Agency, a purpose-driven organization with a focus on brand strategy and marketing – where they work hand-in-hand with their clients to make communities and the world a better place.
See more from @beeborp