Untitled,
by Alexa Johnson

From the day the first statewide shutdown was ordered, people have been busy making things in their homes—mostly sourdough bread, judging by countless social-media posts and press stories. But GIGANTIC collaborator Alexa Johnson has been finding her way through this strange new time via a different medium: photocollage.

“The future is vast and unknown,” she notes. “Fear and anxiety permeate my space. All I can do to find safety is curl up in my couch. The cushions envelop me and I turn inward, away from the reality looming around me.”

Before we turn things over to Jonpaul Douglass and his wonderfully weird playlist—which rounds out issue 1 of GIGANTIC—we wanted to pause with this piece by Alexa. While the fear here is palpable, so too is the idea that art will help get us through. —Kristina Feliciano