"My name is Megan Burns, I'm from Colorado, USA, I'm 18, and I have been a girl scout for 11 years.
I always knew I wanted to do something artistic with my gold award, but when COVID hit, many of my plans were thrown out the window. I remember seeing several social media accounts from all over the world highlighting the pandemic through photography. Because photography is not my strongest art form and I wanted the most amount of people possible to be included, the idea for the Silver Lining project was born.
The Silver Lining project is an art gallery composed of art from three categories: art created during the pandemic, art inspired by the pandemic, and art following the theme of "the silver lining". This includes painting and drawing, writing, music and dance, video editing, photography; the list goes on. I have examples that are anything from pressed flowers and murals to glass installations and metal sculptures."
Megan has been a Girl Scout for 11 years, and says that she loves taking part in the camping trips.
"Scouting has looked totally different this year. We have had to have virtual meetings but they just haven’t felt the same as in person meetings. I miss seeing the girls in my troop so it’s been a pretty tough transition.
Art has always been my emotional and creative outlet no matter where I am in my life. I see art as a silver lining to this pandemic. There has been so much hardship and strife. People have lost jobs, family members, and special moments cancelled. But when the world seems a bit darker than usual, artists come from all walks of life to light it back up again. That's what I want my project to be: a hub creativity and art that can put a smile on your face.
I would be lying if I said I have not struggled this year. I'm in my senior year of high school and I feel frankly lost in this new world of video calls and social distancing with no landmarks to guide me. I am also a huge theatre kid and not having shows on stage for almost a year has also been really rough for me. I really have just been trying to take it one day at a time and make the most of the time I still have in high school. I think it’s important to celebrate the hardship and how you have grown, celebrate how we have adapted to these new restrictions, celebrate yourself for getting through it in one piece. I want my project to be an outlet for you to show the world how you feel.
I want to see how the pandemic has specifically affected YOU! You can see other art submissions both on my website and on my project instagram. I can't wait to see what you come up with!”
If you’d like to take part in Megan’s project, you can take a look at other artworks and submit your art on her website https://thesilverliningproject.godaddysites.com/
