"Contaminant", a 15" x 11" gouache painting that presents a lone scientist in a dark lab, surrounded only by the material objects that belong to the room. They are handling a small glowing heart, wearing a hazmat suit, gas mask, and gloves for protection. They are completely shielded from the visibly bright power this heart possesses. The heart is stored in a vat with liquid nitrogen to keep it cold and solidified. They know that if this is not carefully contained, the outbreak would be irreversible. The scientist is covered head to toe in safety equipment, except for the eyes. This is comparable to the look of the legally mandated apparel of this era. Where there was once familiarity in faces, there are only scared eyes averting their attention. Gloves are mere rubber gestures of hands, mimicking the human form. This bizarre visual motif is something not one person has seen in their lifetime. Similar to the experience of social distancing, the scientist is remaining cautious with the closeness to the subject of testing. The lighting is cold and dark, except for one thing: something more contagious than any virus. The radiant pink heart represents how easily love can spread. It is the one thing this virus can not take away. Kind gestures of any size can extend greatly in effect, overshadowing the scent of mutual anxiety. Too many people are newly unemployed, afraid for the family’s business, risking their lives, or worse. The least we can do to ease this overwhelming tension is remind each other that our hearts remain radiant. The ability to spread a little extra warmth towards others during these tough times is our secret power. Love is unstoppable, it can spread through any amount of social distancing.