Items

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  2020-06

  Dear Anti-Maskers

  One common sight to behold during the pandemic was the signs posted within business’ storefront windows mandating masks to be worn to slow the spread of the coronavirus. In early June 2020 as the city of Chicago entered their Phase 3, which allowed for local businesses to reopen, some store owners used creative messages such as this one to enforce required mask mandates. The sign above, which I noticed on the Chicago Bagel Authority’s Belmont location—six miles north of the Chicago Loop—is a symbol of the city’s efforts to mask up, specifically targeting groups known as “anti-maskers.”
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  2020-06

  covid is the worst

  Over the years my favorite part of life was hanging with people and saying hello and being with them. this could be walking driving or anything else that be a fun time. But due to COVID-19 meeting with people is not the smartest move. This did not hurt my friendships with my friends because most of my friends talk online and play video games online as well. So, my friends and I did not struggle in our relationship. the hardest struggle this pandemic had on me would be my relationship with my grandmother. She lives in a nursing home and knowing anything that the news has said is that nursing homes have been in lock downs. These lock downs are helpful for the residents that live in them but it has been almost a year since I have seen my grandmother. She has been alone for most of it due to her building having lots of cases she had to be in her room by herself for months. This strain of not being able to see her is not the best that came out of this and I worry for her all the time, but she is an iron will lady so I know she will be fine. The other relationships that have been hurt due to COVID-19 would be in the same house with my parents and sister. There is no doubt that I love my family, but it seems that since me and my sister have been in college, we have found our own ways to live life. It seems that both my sister and I have felt that our family is very pushy and that most of what my mom and dad do is still treating us as kids. this is due to our close quarters having but heads all the time. If there is an issue on someone doing something different chaos would erupt. It seems that both my sister and I are on the same page, but my parents are not really. Either on what we can do in or outside the house. So mainly what this pandemic has done for me is to put some tension on my relationships with my family but has left my friendships with normalcy. This pandemic is not welcomed and I would wish that it would go away but it seems that it is staying a little longer.
• 2020-06

  My time during Covid

  2020 was a year like none other that included different events that will go down forever in history. One major event was Covid-19 which ended up affecting everyone all across the world. Some were hit harder by it than others as it directly effected our families and our lives. Like many, I was also affected by covid and all of the restrictions and regulations that came along with it. Most of my story took place in Greensburg, Pennsylvania from March 2020 when it all started all the way until we went back to school in August. This summer was different than any other as it started with restaurants being closed and not being able to see any friends since everyone was supposed to be in quarantine. Eventually places began to open back up slowly with mostly take-out food or outdoor dining and masks everywhere. During this, I was able to get a job at UPS in the warehouse pre-loading the trucks in the mornings. This changed my schedule as I went to work at 3 in the morning and got off work at around 8. My days mostly consisted of working early in the mornings and then going golfing with a couple of friends and then going to bed at 5. Even though I did this most days, I was still not able to get any better at golf. One thing that Covid really affected was being able to see my Nana as I would usually get lunch with her every Monday. Because of Covid, it was best if I didn’t see her for reasons of health as she is at a much higher risk of being negatively affected by it than I would be. Covid kept my days the same for the most part until I eventually moved back into school which consisted of getting used to a new schedule and more on campus rules. Covid really just increased the amount of time I spent on my phone and xbox and decreased the amount of in person interactions that I had with people. This also happened when I went back home for Thanksgiving as I only had it with my family and not my grandparents. While I was still affected by Covid and all of the things that came with it, I was still very lucky as it did not affect me much. I was lucky as no one in my family or myself got Covid. I would say that my experience during Covid was a lot easier than other people’s experiences as it may have affected their families greatly.
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  2020-06

  A College Student Surviving the Pandemic

  I chose my Target employee card from when I worked there over the past summer in my hometown, Venice, FL. I chose this object because it represents to me the pandemic when everyone was at their worst, during all the main lockdowns. I keep it in my wallet because I still somehow have an employee discount. But every time I pull it out, I am reminded of that scary summer of when no one knew what was going on or what was going to happen.
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  2020-06

  June of 2020: a quarantine journal

  This past June, for the first time in my life, I began keeping a daily journal—composed in formally identical declarative sentences—as a record, not only the events of the world that were on and affecting my mind, but also my domestic observations of home, of family, the creatures in my yard, the blooms erupting throughout the garden. In a season of isolation and upheaval, it in many ways helped to keep my brain from total dissolution into quaking depression. Once this month-long record was complete, I launched a Kickstarter campaign in support of the limited publication of *June of 2020: a quarantine journal*, with all profits being donated to Black Girl in Maine, a social-justice blog founded by writer, educator, and activist Shay Stewart-Bouley. While my skill has always been the construction of narratives that allow the reader to feel what it’s like to experience the characters’ experiences, Shay’s talent lies in taking the complex abstractions of social justice and explaining them in a way that is not only immediate and concrete, but also grounded in the experiences of both herself and her audience (in other words, she takes the cultural phenomenon at large and makes it directly relevant to you and your life). She has an ability that I lack. So I’m using my abilities to help support her and her work.
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  2020-06

  Restoring Trust: COVID-19 and The Future of Long-Term Care

  Established by the President of the Royal Society of Canada in April 2020, the RSC Task Force on COVID-19 was mandated to provide evidence-informed perspectives on major societal challenges in response to and recovery from COVID-19. The report begins by reviewing the research context and policy environment in Canada’s long-term care sector before the arrival of COVID-19. It summarizes the existing knowledge base for far-sighted and integrated solutions to challenges in the long-term care sector. The report then outlines profound, long-standing deficiencies in the long-term care sector that contributed to the magnitude of the COVID-19 crisis.
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  2020-06

  BLM Protest During the Pandemic

  A friend, who is to remain anonymous but offered a photo, lives in Washington D.C. and attended a BLM protest there. I asked her to share her experiences. “it probably didn’t move the needle anywhere, but I’m glad I went. The energy and atmosphere were... it’s hard for me to describe. After the sun went down it felt like a street fair, a party. During the day it was passion. The whole time there was a strong feel of togetherness”
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  2020-06

  Protests to reopen Pennsylvania

  As a Pennsylvania resident, I have been keenly aware of the lockdowns and restrictions that have been put in place across the state, as well as the public backlash to them in many parts. For our assignment to blur personal information, I decided to upload this picture of protesters and blur their faces to protect their identities.
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  2020-06

  Panang Curry at Gathering Cafe

  During the pandemic many restaurants in Charleston, SC were shut down or only offered limited service. Gathering Cafe in Charleston only offered takeaway orders with two tables for outside dining. The restaurant is family owned and has a limited staff because of Covid. They also had a new baby, so in order to keep people separate from the restaurant, a large glass window was installed. They had to do their best to keep their restaurant open while also protecting the new member of the family.
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  2020-06

  Jewish Melbourne: Caulfield Shule letter regarding opening up

  Letter from the president of Caulfield Shule to the congregation, sent just after Shavuot, discussing the possibilities of opening up and people being able to attend services, but the need for caution in case there is a second wave of infections
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  2020-06

  The Overton Window Shift

  This meme is in reference to President Ronald Reagan’s gun control measures, which are a callback to the sentiments of a large number of gun-owning former Trump supporters that have been left in the dust by the President’s increasingly authoritarian and draconian attitude towards the Second Amendment. Once he started saying things such as “I prefer to take the guns first and go through due process second” and advocating for expanded red flag laws, many libertarian-leaning conservatives realized that the Republican Party was not going to preserve or prevent infringement on their Second Amendment rights. The final nail in the coffin came with the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, when riot police across the country began abusing protestors and onlookers. When right-wing libertarian militias grabbed their kits and began protecting BLM protesters from police and protecting businesses from rioters, they were targeted by counterterrorism elements of the federal government. This meme represents the complete and total lack of faith that most gun owners now have in the Republican Party.
• 2020-06

  A Difference Between Blue Lives and Black Lives.

  This experience was a phone call I had with my mother in June. My mother is a corrections officer and works in the local jail. Amidst the height of the Black Lives Matter protests, I was discussing with my mom that I value her and the work she does, yet I fully support the BLM movement and the demand for justice. The conversation shifted to white privilege and I shared my ideas on what white privilege is and how it shows up. Towards the end of the conversation, my mother stated that she should be able to wear her uniform in public without being criticized, judged, or feeling unsafe, and how it was ‘unfair’ that the BLM movement targeted police officers. My response was, “at least you have the option to take your uniform and feel safe, whereas black people do not have that option.”
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  2020-06

  Graduating in a Pandemic: St. Mary's University Hosts Diploma Pick Up

  The object is a post from St.Mary's University Linkedin account. The account posted pictures of seniors picking up their diplomas from campus. Amidst the first few months of COVID-19, many changes occurred, especially in academia's traditional spaces. A huge tradition and milestone for students was the spring 2020 graduation. Many Universities, including St.Mary's, held virtual commencement ceremonies that included words from faculty and a program that listed every graduate's name with their major and any awards or affiliations. To provide students their physical degrees, many schools mailed degrees to students, but St.Mary held an event where students and their families could come to campus and pick up their diploma. Hosting an event like this for students and their families was significant because not having a traditional graduation ceremony was a significant loss for those working towards walking the stage. St. Mary's University has a diverse student body of international and first-generation students. All students dream of walking on the stage to get the rewards of their hard work in college. This was not just a loss for students but also family members looking forward to a significant moment. To give students and their families the rewarding celebrity moment, St.Mary's staff and faculty hosted a diploma pickup with safety precautions.
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  2020-06

  Mask situation in Japan

  Like other countries, Japanese people were hoarding masks during March. In June, Uniqulo made a mask using their technology “Airism”. Airism is a popular technology which allows less humidity and dries sweat fast and is very smooth to skin. The Airism mask has three layers, with the outside with UV cut layer, the middle with the filter layer, and inside with Airism layer. When this mask came out, a lot of people waited in line and crowded a lot of stores around Japan. This caused clusters and became news. The mask sold out very quickly and was only limited to one set per person. One set included one small mask for kids, one medium size for women, and one large size for men. They had only one color, which was white, but they now have gray. Recently all stores in Japan have masks, but all of the stocks are from China. Japanese made mask are still very low in stock and is very popular. This is an image from Uniqlo website, which shows the structure of the mask.
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  2020-06

  Florida Vacation

  My parents felt it was very important for us not to be stuck in the house all summer. In February they made a plan to go to Florida for a few days and they didn’t want to cancel it unless they had to. We left Albuquerque at about 11:15 pm and got to Orlando at 4:00 am. The first day was the longest because we were stuck in the airport for many hours before even the car rental place opened and we hadn’t gotten any sleep the night before. We finally made it to Daytona Beach and we sat on the beach the whole first day until our hotel was open. The next few days we drove around, went to the pier, sat on the beach, played mini-golf, and fed some baby alligators. It was nice to get away from Albuquerque for a little bit but it felt good to be home.
• 2020-06

  During Covid-19

  We didnt get to do very much because lots of places shut down. I watched alot of TV because there was nothing else to do. You have to wear a mask everywere. I facetimed my friends alot because I couldn't see them.
• 2020-06

  Life at Home for a While

  I've kept myself busy during the quarrantine by making fun videogames come to life through the scratch website.
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  2020-06

  Finding Beauty in a COVID World: Running Alongside the Locked Up Botanical Garden

  The New York Botanical Garden happens to be near where I reside in the Bronx. Every summer and spring my friends and I plan a few trips to this lovely place to experience all of the natural beauty of the garden. However, this year however, the “Botans,” as we like to call it, was closed for the entirety of the spring and a large chunk of summer due to the pandemic. I believe they are just now, in early August, starting to open with limited capacity. I decided to capture this photo on my run to illustrate how the garden’s beauty is able to penetrate the surrounding community even from outside the gates. You can see the lavender peeking up over the gate and we were able to take a look inside through the openings of the fence to appreciate the park’s beauty. My mask reads “New York Strong.”
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  2020-06

  Political Activism in the Midst of a Pandemic: BLM March Columbus Circle

  A Black Lives Matter Protest is disbanded early due to the city curfew. I left this particular protest at 7pm to get home by 8pm but many people chose to stay. The NYPD started mass arresting groups of people who were out protesting after curfew.
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  2020-06

  Political Activism in the Midst of a Pandemic: Fordham Neighborhood Clean-Up

  People gather on Fordham Road after the night of the looting to clean up the streets. It was amazing to see how many people were eager to get involved and help to clean up our neighborhood. I arrived at noon to help and there was barely anything left to do. This truly shows how much can be accomplished when everyone comes together and lends a hand.
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  2020-06

  Political Activism in the Midst of a Pandemic: Aftermath of the Looting in the Bronx

  I took this particular photo because I found it interesting that these already struggling, local shops were looted and were tied to the protests by the media. I did not feel as though these specific actions were tied to the protests however, I do see looting as a valid form of protest when they are targeting big/chain brands and businesses. It was sad to see my neighborhood in this condition. These photos were taken in early June 2020.
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  2020-06

  Political Activism in the Midst of a Pandemic: Empty City Street After Curfew

  This was taken while I was staying in Manhattan for the protests. I went outside at around 11pm to walk my dog but since De Blasio made the curfew 8pm, it had already been three hours past curfew. I had never seen my city so empty at 11pm; it was shocking. There were NYPD officers standing on every corner monitoring the streets to make sure no one was out. If I hadn’t felt trapped inside before because of quarantine and COVID, I definitely felt trapped now.
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  2020-06

  Political Activism in the Midst of a Pandemic: Curfew is Moved to 8pm

  On June 2nd, Mayor De Blasio changed the already established curfew from 11pm-5am to 8pm-5am. This was a very historical moment in New York, as there has never been any curfew enforced on the city in my lifetime and 8pm seemed very early. I worried for essential workers and anyone who had to rely on public transportation to get home for work, as they were arresting people who were out after 8pm if they did not have a valid excuse or explanation. Photo retrieved from the New York Times.
• 2020-06

  Political Activism in the Midst of a Pandemic

  As a New York native, I have experienced all that has gone on in the city through the 2020 pandemic. In late May, the inhumane murder of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests and walkouts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Not only were there mass protests and marches throughout New York City, but some of these protests sparked looting and the burning down of institutions at the height of the movement. Following the week in late May and early June where the civil unrest was at its peak, De Blasio imposed a citywide curfew which was quite a historical moment, as it was the first time since 1945. I chose to showcase this collection of photographs that I have taken over the summer which document the movement in NYC. All the photos were taken in and around NYC with the exception of the one of the Black Lives Matter billboard which was taken in Utah while driving out of Salt Lake City. I thought it would be interesting to share what political activism looks like in the midst of a global pandemic.
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  2020-06

  The X marking Social Distancing Is Causing Confusion. Humor

  Stores had lines outside them as they limited the number of people allowed inside. They would sometimes us an X to mark the 6 foot distancing rule while waiting. This gave birth to memes about the x itself. One person compared it to a Road Runner cartoon because the road runner stood on an X and every time an anvil or some deadly object dropped on its head. Another genre is the pirate stories. X's on maps marked where the treasure was buried. So all these X's around town could be very confusing while hunting for treasure.
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  2020-06

  Lava Effective against Coronavirus

  This is a humorous meme about the idea of using lava to fight COVID-19. Don't do it! President Trump has suggested injecting disinfectant, getting sunlight into the body, drinking bleach, taking hydroxychloriquine as a preventative measure, and having it magically disappear with warm weather. He hasn't yet suggested using lava, but stand by...
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  2020-06

  Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/28-7/4/2020 by Railroaded Underground

  These images show the Tweets from an incarcerated person who began this Twitter account on a contraband cellphone, to show the world what it is like inside the nation's correctional facilities during the covid pandemic. This week he is talking about many people around him being sick, testing negative himself and then a few days later showing symptoms, 20 "man down" calls a day, which is a way someone needs immediate medical attention, it appears they are housing some inmates in tents in the yard to help with social distancing, genocide, calls on California Governor Gavin Newsom several times, talks about the vulnerable, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, disabled, feeling like they have a knee on their necks because of covid, and San Quentin.
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  2020-06

  Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/21-6/27/2020 by Railroaded Underground

  These images show the Tweets of an incarcerated person for one week. They started this Twitter account using a contraband cell phone to show the world what is happening inside the nation's correctional facilities during the covid pandemic. This week they are talking about immuno compromised individuals, racism, Father's Day, inmates having trouble breathing and dying while waiting for an ambulance, 23 hour a day lockdown which means no phone calls, though prisoners are paying $1000 for contraband cell phones being brought in by cops, and he questions the value of his life.
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  2020-06

  Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/14-6/20/2020 by Railroaded Underground

  These images show the Tweets of a prison inmate who chose to use a contraband cell phone to show the public what is happening inside of the nation's prisons during the coronavirus pandemic. This week he discusses defunding prisons, the ongoing brutality inside prisons, San Quentin, outbreaks from transfers, Juneteenth, taking action not just paying lip service to the holiday, black communities, and early release beginning with the elderly and others most at risk.
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  2020-06

  Tweets from Inside a Prison 6/7-6/13/2020 by Railroaded Underground

  These images show the Tweets of a prison inmate using a contraband cell phone to let the public know what it is like inside the nations prisons during the coronavirus pandemic. This week he talks about the "racist violent system", George Floyd, wishes the momentum for change in policing and Black Lives Matter isn't lost, encouraging voting, #ClemancyNow, San Quentin in San Francisco, and being put in the hole after a prison guard handcuffed and kicked him in the face repeatedly.
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  2020-06

  INTEGRATING TRADITIONAL INDIGENOUS AND WESTERN MEDICINE INTO NICARAGUA'S HEALTH SYSTEMS

  "In Nicaragua and specifically in our autonomous region, we have organized a family and communal-based model of a health system."
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  2020-06

  A Mini Guide to Creative Protest

  A guide to creating protest materials developed by the Art Lab at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. The brief guide asks participants how they can inspire others to fight for racial justice and Black lives. The guide also links to examples of each type of protest materials that are available in the ICA's collection and viewable online. As protests against the murder of George Floyd by 4 Minneapolis police officers have happened across the country, museums and cultural heritage sites have stood in solidarity with these protests while highlighting how their own collections relate to ongoing discussions about race in the United States.
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  2020-06

  Art of the Parks Competition Created By Boston Harbor Now and the National Parks of Boston

  Webpage created by Boston Harbor Now and the National Parks of Boston to inform the public about the 2020 #ArtofThePark competition. The webpage details the time period of the competition for each park, as well as the available prizes and where to locate each park's prompt. With social distancing, #ArtofTheParks offers those in the Boston-area a way to engage with heritage sites even if they still cannot physically interact with them.
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  2020-06

  Wilton, Connecticut 2020 High School Graduation Parade and Student's Newspaper Column

  Wilton is a small town in Connecticut where I grew up. Due to the Coronavirus, their traditional graduation was canceled. Instead, they got together and had a graduation parade on the school grounds. I also included a column from a graduating senior
• 2020-06

  5th funeral since the pandemic started!

  We have seen many untimely deaths during pandemics. Sad but harsh reality.