Items

• 2024-03-14

  A lifelong Dream Journey to Egypt

  At the height of the pandemic, I was in Arizona working in the Maricopa County Supreme Court system. In transparency, there were not very many restrictions, let alone travel restrictions. Additionally, several times I was able to leave the state and go visit my family in my hometown of California which had several different restrictions such as a complete shutdown as well as social distancing and wearing a face mask. Once travel restrictions were lifted, I did not take any specific big trips, due to my living/daily life experiences not being drastically changed living in Arizona during the pandemic. I was still going into the office everyday, in court everyday, and able to do many of the same activities that I would do on a daily basis. As an additional note, if I could travel anywhere in the world, I would love to visit Egypt, specifically Cairo. For as long as I can remember I have had a great fascination with ancient Egyptian history. During my free time, I love watching documentaries about the discovery of ancient Egyptian artifacts and what they symbolize. Being able to actually see Egyptian artifacts personally, would allow me to gain a deeper understanding of ancient life in Egypt. On this trip, I would also like to see the Giza pyramid complex. Pyramid construction and symbolism is another great interest of mine. Recently I have started watching a documentary called, Lost Tombs of the Pyramids, and it exploration and excavation of pyramids. Overall, on this trip, I would document this trip using photography and videography. Those are what I normally use to document trips taken. I like this method because I am able to go back and physically look at sites in my camera roll if I ever wanted to. I have never been outside of the United States, and I hope to accomplish the goal of traveling out of the country soon!
• 
  Summer 2020

  Culture at a Social Distance

  My submissions for #lockdownstatenisland are two examples of creative measures local cultural institutions implemented in Summer 2020 to continue to serve the public safely outdoors. The first is the #WomenoftheNationArise outdoor exhibition at the Staten Island Museum. The gallery exhibition opened a week before lockdown during Women’s History Month - March 2020. Since the galleries had to be closed, the outdoor exhibit gave visitors to Snug Harbor Cultural Center had the chance to explore Staten Island’s role in the fight for women’s right to vote from a #socialdistance. The second is at Historic Richmond Town’s socially distanced recreation area. With picnic tables and chalk circles on the grass, Historic Richmond Town provided a safe outdoor space to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, a book, an ice cream cone, and some time with friends or loved ones.
• 
  2022-01-19

  National Postal Museum closes due to COVID-19

  This article discusses the closure of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington D.C in January of 2022. This is significant due to the fact that its closure is a result of staffing shortages, which have been affecting museums all over the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a significant contribution to the archives because museums do not have a lot of representation within the archives, especially postal museums. The article is important to me personally because I was able to visit there once while I was in Washington D.C., and it was an interesting experience.
• 
  2020-06

  Feeling the Burn

  Like many people at the start of the pandemic, I was not able to go to work everyday. At that point in time, I was working in a museum in Holland, Michigan, as their Interpretive Programs Coordinator, planning and running different programs to coincide with whatever exhibit was currently in the museum. My job quickly became obsolete as everywhere essentially shut down for quarantine. After a few weeks of “working from home”, we were eventually allowed to open the museum again, but with a plethora of new rules and protocols for both our staff and visitors. The biggest change was the alcohol. Not for drinking, although I’m sure that past time sky-rocketed during quarantine. I’m talking about hand-sanitizer or whatever alcohol based cleaner the museum could get their hands on in mass quantities during a time where sanitizer was a difficult commodity to come by. Even our local distilleries were producing hand sanitizer to assist with the shortage of this now imperative product. At the beginning of the pandemic, we did not know how the virus spread yet. There was a time where people were wiping off their groceries with disinfectant wipes or leaving their package deliveries on the porch for days to kill germs before bringing packages inside. Part of our new protocol at the museum was the constant use of hand sanitizer as well as having to wipe down every surface we touched with disinfectant wipes after touching it. You opened the door to your office- wipe it down and use hand sanitizer. Walked to the kitchen to use the microwave- wipe it down and use hand sanitizer. Typed your employee code in the key pad- wipe it down and use hand sanitizer. It was everywhere in the museum. Hand sanitizer has many sensory descriptors. I’ll always remember how slimy this brand was, and how it smelled like the chalky Flintstone vitamins I took as a child. But this practice of constant use of hand sanitizer and alcohol based wipes destroyed my hands. They became so dry and red. The alcohol eventually caused them to crack. The more I had to use the sanitizer and touch the disinfectant wipes, the worse my hands became. The alcohol on my open sores burned. For some in the pandemic, mask wearing was the bane of their existence, but I couldn’t stand the constant use of sanitizer. I was using vaseline every night to try to remedy the burning, but it couldn’t keep up with the use that was required to attempt to keep the rest of our staff and visitors safe. Unfortunately, the pandemic was lasting much longer than the world had anticipated and having no work to do due to the limited capacity in the museum was making me restless. I left that job in August of 2020 to work as a legal assistant in Muskegon, MI. Luckily, the further into the pandemic we got, the more we learned about the virus. As more research came out, scientists discovered that Covid-19 is an air-borne disease, and is more likely to pass through the air than by touching surfaces. Therefore, I didn’t have to use hand sanitizer as constantly as I did at the museum. Of course I’m still careful, and I still use hand sanitizer much more than I ever did pre-pandemic, but when a client walks in our office and uses the sanitizer on my desk, it’s like I can still feel that burn.
• 
  2021-06-01

  Museum Recovery Expected to Take Years Due to Devastating Financial Losses, New Survey Reveals

  The American Alliance of Museums report highlights financial problems and some of the more negative long-term impacts resulting from COVID-19 such as reduced overall net revenue for the institution, lower employment numbers, and lower average salary for their staff members.
• 
  2020-06-30

  What Might the Artworld’s ‘New Normal’ Look Like?

  The ArtReview article comments on the new normal and the possible dangerous path we are propelling towards as a society with accelerated speed. The article specifically discusses the use and imminent fears on future reliance of technology in the art sector. Looking on the positive side, social justice and pressure from activism groups and the Black Lives Matter movement have spurred the beginning of greater reform within the art world including decolonization efforts in museums, diversity in collections, exhibitions, and staff.
• 
  2020-12-31

  The Top Ten Online Exhibitions of 2020

  In an end of the year article, Smithsonian lists the top ten virtual museum exhibitions of 2020: 1. The Smithsonian’s National Picture Gallery, “Every Eye Is Upon Me: First Ladies of the United States”  2. Peabody Essex Museum, “Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle” 3. The Whitney Museum, “Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art, 1925-1945” 4. The Museum of Modern Art, “Dorothea Lange: Words & Pictures” 5. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, “Writing the Future: Basquiat and the Hip-Hop Generation” 6. Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Making the MET, 1870-2020” 7. The British Museum, “The Museum of the World” 8. The Rijksmuseum, “The Night Watch” 9. Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent, “Van Eyck an Optical Revolution” 10. Instituto Cervantes, “Wise and Valiant: Women and Writing in Gold Age of Spain”
• 
  2020-03

  Image from Inside a Closed Museum During Lockdown, Musée du Louvre

  This is an image included in the article, "Museums, Curators, and Artists Find Innovative Solutions for Showing Art in a Pandemic". Taken from a bird's eye view from within the Musée du Louvre, the image shows an empty museum gallery save for a solitary employee. The image is captioned "An employee walks next to Martin Desjardins’s Quatre Captifs in the Musee du Louvre, Paris, closed to the public indefinitely amid concerns on the COVID-19 outbreak, 2020. "
• 
  2020-03-19

  Museums, Curators, and Artists Find Innovative Solutions for Showing Art in a Pandemic

  This Artsy article written in the beginning of the pandemic discusses the innovative ways that museums and art professionals used technology to maintain relevance and viewership during lockdown.
• 
  2021-03-21

  Due to Covid-19 the STRAAT Museum is Closed

  Due to Covid-19 the STRAAT museum featuring urban and street art is closed.
• 
  2020-10-09

  Quote from the Streets

  STRAAT is opening its doors on October 9! My work is on show in the new museum for street art and graffiti during the opening exhibition ‘Quote from the streets’. STRAAT is the museum for street art & graffiti. Here you will find artworks - canvasses as big as a building - and their stories that stay untold in the streets. Made by legendary icons and up-and-coming artists from all over the world. STRAAT strives to become the world’s most important center for an art form that was born on the streets of the city. STRAAT makes street art shine for everyone to see in a space that seems to be there just for that. You can visit the website for more information: www.straatmuseum.com. #STRAAT #fake #fakestencils #supernurse #straatmuseum @straatmuseum #stencilart #streetartmuseum
• 
  2021-03-13

  Smithsonian receives vial from the first Covid-19 vaccine does administered in the US

  "The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History received the vial from the first authorized Covid-19 vaccine does administered in the US. The museum formed a task force last April aimed at chronicling events from the past year as well as documenting the effects of the pandemic has had on businesses, work, politics, and culture, said a news release. "These now historic artifacts document not only this remarkable scientific progress but represent the hope offered to millions living through the cascading crises brought on by COVID-19," museum director Anthea M. Hartig said."
• 
  2021-02-23

  Community quilts will commemorate stories of the COVID-19 pandemic

  The Cameron Art Museum and the Advocacy Project have teamed up to display quilts made by people around the world. These quilts depict the struggles their makers have faced during COVID-19. The museum is encouraging families to make their own COVID-19 quilt squares and return them to the museum. Returned squares will be made into a quilt that will be displayed at the museum for a limited time.
• 
  2021-02-09

  Artists Reimagine How Covid-19 Will Shape the Art World

  In a time when people can't go to museums or concert halls, arts and musicians are improvising. Many are taking part in digital exhibitions and performances. Others are embracing the practice of street art, it always artists to continue creating art and have more exposure to the general population.
• 
  2020-09-24

  Christopher: Find the things that gives you peace

  Christopher is the administrative aid at the African American Museum of Nassau County. He works with museum director, Joysetta Pearse, to promote understanding and appreciation of African American culture, art and tradition through education, interpretation, exhibitions, collections and programs for the enrichment of the public. Chris discusses his work, as well as how we hopes to come out stronger, on the other side of COVID. He also discusses the loss of his uncle and getting a diagnosis of his own during COVID.
• 
  2020-12-08

  Wings Over the Rockies Through the Pandemic

  Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum is located in a hangar of the former Lowry Air Force Base in eastern Denver, Colorado. The museum offers a host of historic aircraft, artifacts, space objects, and more. According to their website, each year the museum can expect “roughly 160,000 visitors representing all 50 U.S. states and 34 countries around the world.” This year has been much different. The pandemic of 2020 has had a major impact on people, the economy, and businesses all around the world. Certain organizations that rely on in-person attendance has been hit especially hard by the effects of COVID-19. Wings Over the Rockies closed its doors on March 13, 2020 indefinitely. Some staff members were able to continue to work from home. Others were not. When Wings reopened its doors over three months later the museum looked and operated entirely different. In an effort to follow state and CDC guidelines as well as put staff and guests at ease, the museum adopted a new system. Now, museum staff and visitors require face masks, the hangar is sectioned off to keep track of the amount of people in one area, signs and markers are placed throughout the museum to enforce social distancing, and visitors are required to pre-purchase timed tickets. Even with this entirely new system throughout the museum, the biggest effect of COVID-19 on the museum is the silence that plagues its building. As people are reflecting on the pandemic and adjusting their own lives to the changes it mandates, certain organizations, like museums, are struggling to attract visitors. Compared to the year 2019, the attendance to the museum during the months of August through November was down an average of 55% this year. Events at the museum, which provides a major source of revenue, is down 75%. A majority of employees work an average of 2-3 days from home per week. The educational programs that Wings provides, which previously saw students running about flying model airplanes and even building an actual plane, are being moved to virtual platforms or are being cancelled entirely. The question for places like museums is not “when will it be safe to return,” because the 182,000 square foot hangar boasted by this museum is more socially distanced than your local grocery store. The question is, “when will people feel financially and mentally comfortable to return to optional places such as museums.” Until society can step up and do what is necessary to return life to normal, the hope is that the educational and fascinating gems, like the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum, can keep its doors open to see that day.
• 
  2020-11-30

  Support the arts in Arizona: Ways to help museums, theaters, galleries during the pandemic

  With the arts and museums struggling to stay afloat during COVID-19, a local newspaper suggests ways to support them.
• 
  2020-10

  Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Museum of Australia's 'Sukkah'

  "While we won’t open our doors until January – and set hearts aflame with MIRKA from Valentine’s Day – we’re delighted to reunite with you at Sukkah. A collaboration with Zahava Elenberg, Creator of Clikclax, Director of Move-in and Co-Founder of Elenberg Fraser Architecture, Sukkah invites you to reflect on humanity and what it means to be in a community. Crafted from Polycarbonate in translucent earth, sky and desert colours, it provides shelter and encourages us to look out towards the never-ending sky and beyond adversity. So until we can meet again at our Museum, we hope you enjoy Sukkah – and think, dream and feel together."
• 
  2020-03-20

  Artis-Naples Social Media Post

  Instagram post by the Artis-Naples. The photograph is their sign that reads “May memories of this season’s iconic moments help you through this difficult time. Be well!” The Artis-Naples is home to the Naples Philharmonic and The Baker Museum. The post itself announces that they will be taking time on their Instagram account to go through the memories of the season’s moments. There is a link to their website regarding COVID-19.
• 
  2020-11-02

  IMAG History & Science Center COVID-19 Changes

  Fort Myers IMAG History & Science Center new hours and exhibit closure web page for COVID-19. There are new hours, groups must register at least a week in advance, and there are exhibits that are remaining closed until further notice.
• 
  2020

  Jewish Melbourne: Jewish Museum of Australia's emails about online events

  With the Covid lockdown in Melbourne, the Jewish Museum of Australia had to close its doors to visitors. In response, they moved activities online, organising events to be held virtually. These events were shared with members of the Museum community through their email list.
• 
  2020-10-28

  Milwaukee cultural institutions team up to provide a virtual field trip portal for teachers

  In Milwaukee, several museums and a zoo team up to create virtual field trips. This allows for students to have field trips in light of most schools not allowing off-campus trips because of COVID-19.
• 
  2020-09-15T16:35

  COVID-19’s Impact on Collier County Museum Projects

  This is an article written by the Naples Daily News discussing the budget issues that Collier County’s museum system is facing due to COVID-19. Since the museum system is primarily funded through the tourism tax, the funding has plummeted about $300,000 due to the pandemic. Steve Carnell, the director of the public services department, said that the museums have taken the hardest hit - the operating budget had to be reduced by a whole quarter ($464,000). Because of this, a lot of the planned growth of the museum has been put on hold until funding can be secured. The article includes even more information on how operations in the five museums have transformed due to COVID-19.
• 
  2020-10-13

  Finally moving to Phase 2

  Wenatchee has been in lockdown and stuck at phase 1.5 for months due to an inability to get the virus under control. We finally received word that we could move to phase two and reopen things like the museums and library in town, which have been closed for 7 months due to COVID. This reopening means that many public services like computer use at the library and wifi for those who do not have access to it at home will be open and able to be used by those that need it. It is an important to compare where we are at to other places that moved into new phases much quicker, some of which had spikes because of it. I personally have not been able to leave and have been stuck at my house for months. I used to go to the library three times a week for school and to get out of my house but with a pandemic, I have been spending more time inside. I do not feel comfortable enough to go to the library yet, but am excited that the option is now there. Back to normal is still not an option though, and I worry that this will cause more cases in my area. This whole experience has been eye opening for how much I did unplanned, now I have to plan everything I do so I can keep myself and my family safe.
• 
  2020-04-06

  Smallpox in Boston: Inoculation and the Revere Family

  As the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread in Boston, museum interpreters at the Paul Revere house looked to the archives to learn more about how Boston has responded to wide-spread illness in the past. This blog post from The Revere Express blog explains how the smallpox epidemic effected the Revere Family and ways that 18th century medicine responded to the illness.
• 
  03/22/2020

  Ricardo Rodriguez Oral History, 2020/03/22

  In response to COVID-19, the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science launched the mini-series, "Cultural Insights: Interviews in the Creative Sector," to highlight colleagues and professionals working in the same or similar field of museum professionals.
• 
  2020

  A Sailor's Life, Live!

  Although the museum usually hosts youth educational programs in the summer, they've made the programs available online. For children interested in learning about the USS Constitution, they can view videos like this one and watch museum educators teach about the ship and its history. This video also includes USS Constitution crew members.
• 
  2020-07-28

  Jewish Women in the Labor Movement

  This is an example of the types of virtual programs held by the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Based on the primary sources held at this institution, the society invited audiences to engage with the material virtually.
• 
  2020-08

  Virtual Summer Research Stay-At-Home

  This screenshot explains a virtual event hosted by American Ancestors and the New England Historic Genealogical Society. This event is an example of how researchers are adapting to the pandemic. With the building closed, the New England Historic Genealogical Society is hosting a program to encourage researchers to access digitized material and continue researching during the pandemic
• 
  2020-04

  JFK Library From Home

  This webpage explains to audiences how they can experience the John F. Kennedy Library and learn about the legacy of President Kennedy from home. By following the museum via the suggested social media platforms, audiences can see the highlights of the museum holdings. The library email digest, including museum opening updates and events, is also advertised on this page.
• 
  2020-03-18

  John F. Kennedy Library COVID-19 News Release

  This news release from the John F. Kennedy Library explains that members of the staff had completed their 14-day quarantine. However, the release maintains that the museum will stay closed. As an example of inter-organization communication and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this news release shares the timeline for closure and response at the JFK Library
• 
  2020-07

  Visiting the ICA: Know Before You Go and FAQ

  Webpage of the Institute of Contemporary Art further explaining some of their reopening policies and answering likely questions. As museums are reopening, they require updated policies that are easily explained and accessible to visitors. This webpage offers further explanation on how new policies will affect visitors, and how visitors can obtain tickets to the museum once it reopens.
• 
  2020-06-20

  Summer Solstice 2020 Virtual Celebration

  Video virtual celebration of the Summer Solstice hosted by the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture. The video includes scientific and cultural presentations, as well as activities. Programming is drawn from the four museums that make up the Harvard Museums. As museums have been forced into online outreach because of the pandemic, they have had to change how they celebrate and commemorate important days and events.
• 
  2020

  Collecting Covid-19 material at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum

  The Smithsonian National Postal Museum has historically collected postal material from times of crisis, including 9/11 (https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_2002.2002.12) and the Anthrax attacks (https://postalmuseum.si.edu/object/npm_2002.2003.3). During this pandemic, postal workers are essential employees. There's been a resurgence in the public's use of mail (including letters to thank postal workers), the census was conducted by mail, and local elections have been conducted by mail. The National Postal Museum will review and accession material once staff is able to return to the building. In addition, we hope to collect oral histories from front-line, postal workers.
• 
  2020-06-09

  Harvard Museum of Natural History #MuseumAtHome

  Coloring page for the exterior of the Harvard Museum of Natural History published on their Twitter page as part of the social media campaign #MuseumAtHome. This is also tied to their #ColorOurCollections social media campaign. Both campaigns are part of Boston museums' efforts to engage in socially distanced outreach as a result of the CoVid-19 pandemic.
• 
  2020-02-14

  A Collection of Videos of Wuhan's Most Famous Internet Celebrity Curtain

  The original first record of the curtain was 02/14/2020, it was actually valentines day. It is a story that I have personally followed up with. I accidentally saw one of the videos when the mystery was not solved, then decided to follow up. The very first video uploaded in the collection was only a short video of a random Wuhan man taking a video of one neighbor's curtain crazily flying outside the opened window. The curtain flew for days and there is no one in the house because it was never held well as how other curtains should be inside the window. For days and weeks, millions and millions of people in DouYin and the real-world worried about the family that should be living in that apartment. They wish and hope they are safe and healthy and prayed for them. Luckily after months, the owner came back safe and sound with his family. They were stuck in another city and could not come back. The Wuhan museum then decided to collect this set of curtains for the memory of fighting this pandemic, that videos of the only small flying curtain made millions and billions of people worried and prayed together for the family. It is important because it's a special memory for all to think about and pray for a set of curtains and the family that owned them. it was worrying but memorable, it draws the whole country's attention with a lonely curtain. It recorded how this pandemic affects people's real life, social media, as well as hearts worrying for families all over the world.