VESOTA Presents 'Creative Connections'

When the “shelter at home” paradigm began back in March, VESOTA sprang into action with their “Sounds Of Hope” videos, spreading compassion through individual performances on social media when we could not do so together. Since then, they have been engaged in a project we’re calling Creative Connections.

Creative Connections was developed by VESOTA’s leadership as a way for choir members to use their substantial artistic talents to express themselves during this unprecedented time of isolation. The choir was divided into three groups and asked to respond to a prompt using whatever medium resonated with them. The first participant in each group was given the Langston Hughes poem “I Dream A World”, and from then on, they were inspired by one another in a daisy chain fashion. What follows are the three galleries, in the order the works were created:

Gallery #1

I Dream A World by Langston Hughes
Blackwater Waltz
A short waltz for anyone to dance to.
Halloween Ride
The song I was sent sounded like the kind of music that would be playing at a scary theme park. So, I thought of a kind of rollercoaster that would go through a skull's mouth.
A Spot Of Musik Death
A drawn piano key and a human skull (fake) and two smaller skulls from small animals
Music Is Timeless
It's a poem about how music and the feelings it creates will never fade.
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poem
A small poem expressing that music is a cure to everyday struggles.
Bloom Of Harmonies & Melodies
Music is hope that after the cold harsh winter will come the bountiful spring rain that will water the land and bring back nature that was covered under a layer of snow. So the harmonies and melodies continue to bloom and music brings us together in unity, in joy, and with love.
A Reflection On the Transitory Nature Of Beauty: It is a stop motion film
Freedom
A skyline seemingly painted on a canvas, with a bright white circle in the center. Interrupting the skyline, the circle, and the canvas, is the clear image of a tree.
The Peace Tree
I wanted to show things that I have bring me calmness when I go outside and need space. Which is why I drew a big tree in the sky and I put the circle around it to show that it’s the center or everything.
Boy Under A Tree: It's a short song I thought of, about a boy and his favorite tree. Based off a true story.
I Am the Peace
There’s a girl at the bottom reaching up into the dark void of all the hate in the world, and the peace that she alone spreads pierces through it all, proving to be much stronger than any kind of hate in the world ever could be.
Peace Beats Hate
Negativity and hate are not within us they are given to us and we can show peace and love and break away from all the hate.

Gallery #2

I Dream A World by Langston Hughes
Dream Of Better Days
Someone dreams of people at a park, enjoying nature and lazing about without any concerns
Old Days: It’s been really hard staying at home and I wish it was the old days but I believe it’s going to get better.
Seeing the Beauty
A picture of seeing the beauty in the future or in life when it might not be right in front of you.
Courage
This is a short little writing that I did based on what I saw in the picture!!
Hold On (cover): This song, Hold On - originally by Chord Overstreet - is a plead for a loved one either in distress, dying, or in a bad condition to come back to them, to keep living and that they have someone that loves them waiting.
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Melancholy
I feel that during this pandemic, many people have some feeling of sadness and/or loneliness due to being in quarantine. The wings represent freedom and the yearning to break free and fly away.
Fallen Angel
It is a poem describing a picture
Mistreated
I created a very short story based off the prompt I got. It’s something I enjoyed writing!
Cake With Wings
I made a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting and a heart with wings made of white chocolate.
Caker Cut Out
Imagine the cake, but it was made by a 2nd grader in art class.
Overcome
A bright heart in the midst of shadows can break chains and overcome all. Be strong and bright, you will achieve all.

Gallery #3

I Dream A World by Langston Hughes
Dream World Recipe
It’s a fake recipe on how to make a world that people dream of.
What I Want To Give the World
It's a 3-D carving of a world on a wood plank, with 3 carvings above it of what I wish to give the world.
What I Want To Give the World!
Lately, I’m quarantine I was thinking what better choices I can make for me, and especially the people around me. I wanted to give the work love, kindness, and growth.
What I Want To Give the World: It’s a small scale rap piece about how I want to be able to make people feel not only in this time of crisis, but when I start my career. I want people to be happy when they see what I do.
If There Was Anything
This is a poem I wrote reflecting on life in social distancing and what is helpful and what is not!
Grounded
It's a poem sort of thing placed on top of pictures I've taken
Song: It’s a song based on the prompt I was given and it’s just a reminder that no matter how high life takes you, you can always come back.
The Hopeful Light
A haiku and picture that depicts hope
Express Your Colors: This is a dance choreographed by me. I wanted a song and dance that showed confidence and joy. The messages is to show your colors, ethnicity, personality, joy. I wanted to convey to the audience to be happy and express themselves.
Unity For One And For All
I wrote a poem based on a girl who despite the changes and uncertainty in the world around us, dances on.