About
On the surface, our experiences can seem fairly universal. Many will say "there was a stay at home order, so I stayed at home." or "yeah, I never stopped working." The societal focus on work, an attitude of value-making, has been exposed by the lockdown. And yet, the struggle to attain the goods necessary to live comfortably continues to prevent many from engaging with their communities and neighbors as much as they otherwise could. During the pandemic, many became isolated from not only their wider communities, but also the friends and family that made up their inner circles.
With millions of New Yorkers facing social isolation, not being allowed out of their homes, where were they to turn to for a semblance of socializing and support?
I've learned, since moving into the Astoria, Queens apartment building that I'm typing this in, that you can look within.
In this exhibition, I have created six profiles, one for myself, and four for my neighbors, that detail our lives in New York leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they have since been impacted by it. I've also created a life profile for George's sister, Mary, who died during the onset of the pandemic, just a week after the stay-at-home order was put into place. I've done this to look at the pandemic in New York through a much smaller lens, one that is accessible to anyone who also lives in a multi-family building; each building has its own story, made up by all of those within.
I have also used this as an opportunity to become closer with my neighbors, whose positive impact on me during the pandemic has helped to alleviate some of the anxieties that this turbulent period has raised. What does it look like for you to just talk with your neighbors? Would it be an awkward first encounter, a traditional cup of coffee, or somewhere in between? Would them sharing their story with you, in some way, alter your understanding of your own?
Click here to choose from ours.