Creativity unmasked: Akron artist captures extreme reactions to coronavirus pandemic

Akron Beacon Journal
By Alan Ashworth
Published: July 14, 2020

As the coronavirus crisis developed in March, Akron artist and Barberton art teacher Ron White thought that something was off about people’s reaction.

“Usually people were much calmer when we had a past experience,” White said.

He saw an extreme response that didn’t make sense. People were snatching up groceries and supplies so quickly that stores couldn’t keep some items on the shelves.

On social media, he saw posts about individuals building man caves underground. Society seemed to be overreacting to a situation the populace hadn’t confronted before.

“Where’s this going to go?” White asked himself.