Susan Sullivan, Petaluma, California, United States

I am a ceramic artist and have concentrated on making ceramic “maps” the last few years. For me, maps are pictures of how we move through the world, mentally and physically. The pandemic had a clear impact on us, especially since we had barely settled down after moving from our home of 40 years to a new place. We had begun to engage in activities, classes, volunteer work, and building a new studio.  When the shelter-in-place orders arrived, all this came to a sudden halt. We were grateful for our garden, studio, and neighbors, but it still felt strange.  Then the wildfires came, and we were pushed into an even smaller world  inside, with the air unbreathable outside. It took effort some days to feel  gratitude, but the whole pandemic has been an opportunity for gratitude,  patience, resilience, and appreciation. I never thought I would be longing for a simple thing like meeting a friend for coffee in a restaurant.  In the future, I hope I can still feel appreciation for the little things the way I do now.