On Nourishment
All original art/Nazanin Arastoo.
By Nazanin Arastoo
Physical nourishment requires that life eats life. Even vegetarians cannot escape this cycle. The COVID-19 virus has taken the lives of many people of the world leaving economic devastation and broken families and hearts for millions.
Amidst all the devastation for small businesses, the wealthy, many corporations, the stock market, and most of all the tech industry have thrived under this crisis. Those who are not essential workers and can work from home have been nourished by not having to commute or get out of pajamas, and they have had the money and time to do home improvements as many have drunk from the bitter drink of homelessness and the lack of food.
Take-out food mandates have fed the plastic and logging industry. Paper does come from trees, and plastic is created at an immense cost to the planet and takes a hundred years to disintegrate. Online shopping has nourished the shipping industry, where there are hundreds of ships from China lined up to the horizon at U.S. ports carrying record numbers of merchandise across the vast ocean as they pollute the air the ocean and drive whales and dolphins crazy with the sound of their motors so that those doing remote work from home can be comforted by more stuff. Meanwhile those who do the "essential work" that allows us to enjoy such essentials as eating have only been exposed to fear, stress, COVID-19, and death for much less pay than remote workers, not to mention the no or minimal health insurance and inadequate housing.
COVID-19 tests and vaccines have augmented the already corrupt pharmaceutical industry. Dictators thirsting for ever more power have been nourished in several countries by the COVID-19 crisis. Many parents having to homeschool and supervise their children's education have been experiencing frustration as they become aware of what a difficult task teachers face everyday in the classroom. In general, COVID-19 has magnified the already existing economic social and racial divides in this country and the world. This disparity has nourished a deep sadness and compassion in my heart.
I was a fine arts teacher at a high school in Reno for five years. The school had been a public charter for 20 years, but the Washoe County School District decided not to renew our charter and so the school was closed permanently in June 2019. The pandemic has made it even more difficult for me to look for an arts teaching position.
There are already very few positions open for art teachers, and we are becoming an extinct species since art programs are constantly being cut due to lack of funding across the country. It has been scientifically proven that studying the arts has nourished student creativity and has helped students improve and excel in all other subjects; however, this fact has had very little consideration in the school districts that choose to cut their arts programs. The pandemic has created a great deal of confusion in the schools in regards to arts education. Although I have sent many resumes and conducted many Zoom interviews, I haven't secured a position yet, but I still nourish hope that I will teach visual arts again soon. Many schools are starting hybrid programs or in-person classes putting many teachers at high risk, including the parents of those children many of whom are elderly. Hopefully vaccinations will soon allow in-person learning to be safe again for everyone.
I have been using this time to nourish my soul, spirit, and body through meditation and communing with nature. I've been polishing my professional artistic skills at plein air watercolor, a skill I hope to include in my future art classes. I've been working on my skills as a musician, which I hope to also share with students in the future.
On my outdoor adventures, I have met many who have embarked upon a nature quest. Generally the people I encounter are the well-to-do retired or with remote jobs with very expensive RVs and Sprinter vans who seemingly have a complete disconnect from the suffering and pain of others. It's not only COVID-19 that has caused suffering. Many people have been made homeless from forced evictions due to sudden and uncontrolled surges in rent, fires, floods, droughts, climate change, and war. We are all citizens of the earth. By having awareness and compassion for the suffering of all beings we can alter habits, behaviors, and attitudes that help nourish the world rather than deplete it. It is our duty to leave the earth a better place for the future generations.
By choosing to consume less whether it is a smaller but a more fuel efficient car or home, by refilling a reusable water bottle rather than buying a plastic bottle, and, in general, reusing rather than throwing away disposables we can nourish the earth rather than destroy it.
The beauty of this earth has helped heal and nourish my spirit. Watercolors have been my vehicle by taking the time and the space to sit in a beautiful place and paint in solitude. It's not the final product that has nourished me, it's the process of stillness and paying attention and truly feeling the beauty of life. The beauty that escapes me when I'm immersed in routines and business and even in the rush of hiking, or kayaking. My sight has been nourished by this practice of stillness. I see so much more color, texture, light, and the incredible beauty of life. Sharing my art with others has also nourished their spirits. I've been amazed by the reaction of joy to my art that has been reflected back to me.
Nazanin Arastoo was born in Tehran, Iran. She lived through the Iranian Islamic Revolution and two years into the Iran-Iraq war. When the nightly bombings became overwhelming, as well as the increasing shortages in food, electricity, fuel, and even water, her family decided to flee overland to Turkey over the mountains that border the two countries. Being of the Jewish minority her family was not allowed by the Islamic Republic to leave the country legally.
After the hazardous nightly journey of nine nights guided by the native Kurds of the region, her family crossed to Turkey. Her family was granted green cards by the U.S. government. She has lived in the United States for 34 years and the last 10 in the beautiful wild and desolate state of Nevada, which reminds her of her homeland the Persian Plateau with its high deserts and magnificent mountains.
Nazanin has been teaching Visual Arts, music, and puppet theater for five years at I Can Do Anything Charter High School. Nazanin has her own puppet theater company called the Gypsy Puppets and has received several grants. She has performed and conducted workshops in several schools, libraries, and theaters in Nevada and California. In addition to being a visual artist she is also a musician and a world traveler. She finds her inspiration in nature and the many amazing cultures around the world.
Thank you for visiting Humanities Heart to Heart, a program of Nevada Humanities. Any views or opinions represented in posts or content on the Humanities Heart to Heart webpage are personal and belong solely to the author or contributor and do not represent those of Nevada Humanities, its staff, or any donor, partner, or affiliated organization, unless explicitly stated. At no time are these posts understood to promote particular political, religious, or ideological points of view; advocate for a particular program or social or political action; or support specific public policies or legislation on behalf of Nevada Humanities, its staff, any donor, partner, or affiliated organization. Omissions, errors, or mistakes are entirely unintentional. Nevada Humanities makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on these posts or found by following any link embedded in these posts. Nevada Humanities reserves the right to alter, update, or remove content on the Humanities Heart to Heart webpage at any time.