New York-based artist Lucas
Samaras gained fame in the mid-20th century for his work in a
variety of eccentric art forms. One of
his most fascinating works includes Room No. 2, Mirrored Cell – an
8’x8’x8’ chamber covered on all sides with mirrors that transform the space
into a sensational, dizzying infinity room.
Utterly captivating, the room invites viewers to step into a
chain of endless reflections and refractions.
Stretching endlessly in all directions, the mirrored space gives viewers
the surreal experience of floating weightlessly in an abyss devoid of time or
place. The original room can be found in
the permanent collection of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, NY.
Dogs are naturally curious and inquisitive so they generally
interact enthusiastically with the world around them. But, seeing his multiple reflections, Archie
froze. Suddenly, an enormous pack of
dogs stared back at him from all sides, from above and below.
His first and safest option would be to run fast for the
safety of his handler, but unable to put sufficient distance between himself
and the numerous threats, the only other option left was to bare his teeth and
bark.
What started out as a low-pitched “stay-away-from-me” growl
quickly intensified when all the reflections responded to him in the exact same
way. Paralyzing fear spread through his
body like icy, liquid metal. He barked
frantically, tossing his head from side to side and snapping his teeth.
The reflections imitated his every move. Howls echoed off the numerous glass surfaces. His eyes widened in terror and breaths soon became
more ragged and acquiescent.
The next morning, museum security guards found the unresponsive
dog surrounded by millions of images of his own dead corpse. Nobody had touched or hurt the dog; Archie had
succumbed to the irrational fear of his own reflections.
For today’s coronavirus INFO-demic, the greatest source of
anxiety has been the tortuous process of watching the news unfold on social
media. This is not to say there’s no
reason to be concerned, or that we should ignore the sound advice of medical
professionals and public health experts.
But panic and fear don’t come from God; calm and hope do. And it’s possible to respond to this crisis
seriously and deliberately while maintaining an inner sense of patience and peace-of-mind. Resist panic, avoid demonizing, care for
those in need, and trust that God is with you.
Go to Him in prayer; we will move through this together, with God’s
help.
Holy Father, under your protection, we seek
refuge. We feel helpless as the virus
spins out of our control. In these
unsettling times, we find peace in Your presence, for only You can effectively
prevent the contagious epidemic of fear.
Amen
