Ruben Parmel
Artist and Designer RuBen Permel has been creating on and off stage more than 3 decades throughout the United States and Canada. His artistic ability as a contemporary painter has led him to many award-winning works and gallery showings. He has toured nationally and designed costumes for numerous Theatres, Film and Television Productions. RuBen’s variety of art skills branch out as a professional Maker in Puppetry Arts, Textile Sculpture, Quilting and Photography. His newest adventures are in Black and White Portraiture have been getting positive notice. He continues to craft his ambition to be a Playwright for stage while maintaining his passion of being a diverse working Artist. RuBen is currently based out of Las Vegas, NV where he supervised costumes and wardrobe for 5 Cirque du Soleil productions with MGM Resorts.
Small World
Weeks into a world pandemic I discovered outside my own isolated bubble there were children facing a new reality. What was secure and routine before has become closed and unpredictable. Daily practices and ordinary acts changed. Everything that was once very familiar has to be recognized through clear barriers and fabric veils. Playmates, school friends, teachers and even some grand parents are missing. Moms and Dads have become the center focus of their disrupted agendas as their open universe somehow retreated into a small world. The children need to know they are safe and soon “this new way” will all be over. I too stumble through my own sense of existence. My universe has been shaken like a pair of dice and rolled to a full stop. I am old enough to take the gamble on myself and others. I just wonder how much of a winning recovery will prevail in these young eyes.
As weeks turned into months, I decided to captured images of some of my friends’ kids. I wanted to see for myself what keeps them going. I am well into fighting my own war between self-pity and appreciation. The prayers a year earlier to slow down and allow myself to truly absorb my losses have been answered. I would have never guessed a crippling virus would unlock my need to exhale. I secretly celebrate the stopped clock and cancelled deadlines but react as though some part of life is being taken away again.
A call for 6 kids to photograph outside while wearing my mask at safe distance turned into dozens of replies and even more toddlers than I could count. My requests to see inside their world is granted with waving flags of surrender. A new distraction, a time filler and even a chance to see my familiar face. As I thumbed through the black and white photographs on my phone, I noticed more than a tea party for one. 3-year-old JoJo held court curbside with only her attending. Dolls and plush toys from her room replaced the vacant spaces. Fishing in the backyard pool reflected an empty pond with the likelihood of no bites. A look into a microscope ponders a discovery and maybe a cure. Painted rocks, a soccer ball, bubbles, chalk, music and the feel of dried grass occupied their attention. How were they so content? Their quiet resilience touches me to the core. Even behind the stillness of a glance, I could see a spark of joy. Maybe my need for comfort drew me from my closed windows and blank canvases.
In the moment, I discovered the art of hopefulness through limited connections and innocent eyes. I just needed to look beyond the phone lens. The real story to tell, is me. What I imagine should never define the truth. These small faces are prevailing through a historical wink in time. In the tragedy of our great big world, I only need to answer, can the child within my heart rise above? I now believe, I will.
*All 24 candid images shot on iPhone 11Pro during the 2020 COVID Pandemic in Las Vegas, NV.
