Art is an integral part of our existence, with cave paintings that date back to 40,000 years ago. It is symbolic of human thought and a characteristic of cultural pathos. Art, in its various forms, is essentially what connects humanity.
Back at the start of the pandemic, when shelter in place orders were in full effect, Long Island artist, Kara Hoblin captured hearts with an impromptu driveway mural, “Thank You Healthcare Heroes.” The image went viral on social media. Amid the height of social isolation, her artwork gained widespread popularity and connected her to people all over the world — a single image that sent a wave of inspiration across the internet.
“I’m really so grateful that Instagram lets me connect with people. I get a lot of human interaction during a time when we can’t actually hang out in person. It feels like my art and life’s work are being appreciated, understood, and I’m on the right path,” Hoblin said of her organic, 15.1k followers (and growing) on the platform. Prior to stay at home orders, Hoblin viewed social media merely as a place to display her work. Now, it’s become a gateway for new business and evolving friendships.
Before 2020, Hoblin was chiefly recognized for her commissioned murals at local businesses — First and South in Greenport, Love Lane Kitchen in Mattituck, The Brixton in Babylon, Hounds Tree Wines in Williamsburg, to name a few — and, perhaps most remembered, her live chalk erases “The Art of Letting Go.” Her commercial work runs the gamut of industries — restaurants, office spaces, galleries, weddings, and even festivals. But as COVID regulations held on, her livelihood also took a hit, reducing her work to 40 percent of what it used to be. “When the pandemic first started, if a business shut down indoor service or closed, there was no more need for my art if people weren’t visiting to see it. It’s part of the guest experience.”
Without tangible, in-person encounters, her days felt more like periods of mourning, and inspiration began to wane. A lament for the old world — the physical and the psychological. “At first it was all very negative, the world imploding and everyone being hidden away in fear. This deep isolation, sadness of the death and uncertainty around us. But then it changed, or I should say I changed my perspective,” Hoblin expressed. In the nearly 10 months since the driveway mural, Hoblin has endured a creative awakening. Like many others, the onset of a global crisis affected every aspect of her life, including where and how she worked. Rather than fall into despair, she harnessed her sensations and began to create. “I used my art to pull myself out of it. I think, in that, I was able to help a lot of other people as well.”
For a moment, Hoblin questioned her place as an artist, speculating a degree in medicine or chemistry would have been more useful to the new world. Fortunately, the cut in commercial work allowed her to tap into personal work. In looking inward, Hoblin worked outward and arose from the sadness and gripping fear brought on by the news and social media. She began to flourish, using her gift as an artist to provide hope — an essential need during the pandemic.
“I can’t dwell on what I’m not. I need to be present and use the tools I have in front of me — literally my hands. We collectively, as a species, were going through a universal loss. And many people experienced a literal loss. Hopefully, through my work I can bring some positivity and light to a dark present we are all experiencing.” Through her introspection, Hoblin’s fine art sales skyrocketed and led to the start of an Etsy account for prints and merchandise last June. Overall, 2020 “provided change and growth, over and over again.”
Without art shows, or hired events, life has slowed down. Hoblin revisits old ideas while trying her hand at new ones — chalk work on paper, using organic clam shells, and a new mural in Port Jefferson Village that was commissioned by Discover Long Island. The mural was her first collaborative project where she was given full creative liberties, and another mural is scheduled in Long Beach when the weather warms up. Hoblin is emerging from the chrysalis that was 2020 with sights on a new type of canvas.
“2021 is the year of living art, art you live in, and art that is alive around you,” Hoblin said of her new painted, large scale interior design murals, decorating private home living spaces.
As the pandemic rolls on, Hoblin continues to be inspired by nature. She spends time with her Australian Shepherd, Lily, exploring the woods and picking up trash on the shorelines.