The sixth installment in our new series called, a mood, we invited writer and creative Allison Burt-Tilden to share. Allison included a killer eclectic and well-mixed playlist, and some writing to accompany her collection of images.

To see more of Allison’s work please visit her website or follow her on Instagram @allisonbtpdx.

What’s been on my mind the most lately is my introversion and how it seems to be at odds with the majority; I’m in the very small camp of people that was secretly delighted by the news that I had to go home, and what, stay there? Like for weeks and weeks and maybe months and months on end? Ok! Just gotta make sure I have enough snacks first. 

Of course I miss my friends, and I truly ache seeing people I love struggle with loneliness while simultaneously not understanding it very well. Sure, I’ve been lonely before – soul crushingly lonely even – but for me it’s something I’m more likely to experience while surrounded by people than while alone.  I’ve never been a very social animal so social distancing feels comfortable and if anything, I wish others did a better job of it.  

I’m not actually alone due to the fact that I’m married. Having two floors allows for private time and the ability to ignore each other when needed but there’s always someone around if I need a hug or to vent about work or to reach me something from a high shelf. So it’s really been a perfect time for me that I’m increasingly more and more comfortable with as each day passes and low key I’m dreading the return to leaving my house on the regular. What might it trigger? What if I slide back to the agoraphobic tendencies I’ve fought for so long? Only time will tell. Until then I’m happy to be Alone Together. 

—Allison Burt-Tilden

About the art:

The art I chose for my Alone Together Mood represents to me the various stages of quarantine, both as I’ve experienced them and as I’ve seen the experiences of others via social media. 

Smells Like Teenage Armpit by Super Future Kid encapsulates for me the bliss I feel being alone in my most sacred space (aka the bedroom).

Portrait of artist Lane Walkup and her metal sculptures by Unlimited Time Only represents the sense of surreality I experienced the first few weeks of quarantine. Like, what even is anything? 

Virtual Room by Neon Saltwater brings to mind how I immediately went into home improvement mode, determined to make my fantasy home a reality (spoiler, it still isn’t).

Gelatin art by Lexie Park aka Nunchi is the height of cooking to relieve boredom and serve as an outlet for creativity. 

Illustration by Jason Lyon speaks to me as the ultimate calm that descends once you’re at peace with yourself, even if only for a few moments. 

Floral arrangement and photo by Doan Ly reminds me of how I suddenly needed to indulge in indulgence; the first few weeks in I was non-stop online shopping for the fanciest candles & chocolate and surrounded myself with flowers. 

Sculpture by Adam Parker Smith is how I imagine most people feel as they miss people, that feeling that you will surely burst but in the end, no one really does. Burst, that is. 

Illustration by Seo Young evokes two meanings to me: the point in extreme loneliness where you imagine company as well as the times you have company that isn’t living up to expectations. 

Garment by Simone Rocha for Moncler shows me a future where fashion does it’s part to solve problems while we wait for science to get there.

And why not? I made a mix to go along with. I chose songs that deal with being / feeling alone & missing / not missing people. You get the idea. Mood: Alone Together