About the Strange Fruit collection

In the Spring of 2020, life as we knew it came to a halt. A global pandemic forced us to change the way we live. Our sense of normal felt challenged. Compelled to retreat into our homes, we distanced ourselves from one another. Strangely enough, even though we hid away from the world, life outside in the elements continued, just as it had before that fateful Spring. The birds kept singing and the grass continued to grow. The roots, vines, and branches continued to bear us fruit; the harvest never stopped. Nature remained ambivalent to our absence. Coming to this realization in the midst of quarantine, I decided to take time out of my days to acknowledge what has been harvested. It allowed me to be present in the moment with each gift from nature—to observe each fruit’s unique qualities and convey them through the art making technique of collage. The Strange Fruit collection is a series of intricate painted collages depicting different fruits that I had access to during the 2020 pandemic. Each collage serves as an opportunity to express my gratitude for what nature has bestowed upon us.                            

-Jac Alva Art