Donna Castellanos

Welcome to RUBBERLAND: a mysterious place filled with dark, continuously growing and changing foliage... where you may even encounter an unexpected scary bug (eek!) With all of its uncertainty Rubberland can be confusing at times: inside out and upside down, yet flexible and strong. Although this place has been stretched to the limit, hidden inside is a reflective sparkle of hope that our world will soon bounce back. To help me through this pandemic I’ve found myself out on my bike in the early morning. This has given me a sense of peace I so desperately needed - a chance to get away from the news, the chatter, the social media. As time went on I realized many others have found refuge on these paths, maybe out of work and having more time to appreciate the outdoors. Yet there are reminders of the virus left behind: discarded masks littering the paths, the taped off playgrounds and restrooms, and the car free roads. In the past, my main source of materials consisted of discarded books and encyclopedias. As the world began to shut down, I found my material supply was suddenly being cut off. Estate sales were canceled, thrift shops closed, even the glue I used was on backorder for 2 months. Looking for materials I had on hand, I looked for supplies that could weather the outdoors for the global Art-In-Place project, I turned to my collection of recycled rubber bike tires and tubes. I started creating an unusual, abstract environment that connected nature and my morning ritual. As I ran low on tires, our local bike shop was finally allowed to open. Stopping in for my recycled “art supplies” I found this shop very sparse, just a handful of bikes and accessories. People had been buying up what they could, searching for alternative outdoor activities after being shut in for months. A few weeks later the shop was completely empty, the owner informed me that 90% of bikes and parts are made in Wuhan China, and there would not be any shipments until at least August. He was still able to give me some tires, but that supply would dry up soon. Searching out other shops, they are all feeling the pinch. It is shocking to think about how many industries we may not even realize are so terribly impacted during this time. As I invite visitors (at a distance) to view this installation I want to inspire hope. We’re all feeling a sense of darkness, sometimes even a bit lost in our minds. But we are not alone. We all need to take a look around us, bring the outside world into our hearts, and appreciate the world we live in.