Art and COVID-19

As a curator of art, how do I interpret COVID-19? I am not a medical professional, nor will I pretend to fully comprehend what is occurring. Nonetheless, as an individual, I am designed to create exhibitions and programming to better understand the world around me. Although I have been in this profession for a decade, I have never dealt with a pandemic. However, in 2018, I had the opportunity to learn about “crisis collecting” during my training at Johns Hopkins University.

Crisis collecting is when a museum professional takes the initiative to document history in the making. The Boston Marathon Bombing, 9/11, the Miami Pulse Shooting, and other tragedies are a few examples in which our colleagues collected materials and stories to create exhibitions for reflection, memorializing, and to better understand what occurred. From our colleagues, we have “toolkits” that museum professionals can use in case a crisis hits our community.

While we have these tools, it is hard to compare COVID-19 to these types of tragedies. Since COVID-19 is a virus, museum professionals cannot “collect” any physical memorials like the crises listed above. The reason being, these tangible objects can host COVID-19. (Look at the sterilizing and removal of memorials on the Western Wall: https://www.jta.org/2020/03/05/global/the-latest-jewish-coronavirus-updates-el-al-downsizes-services- move-online-and-more)

Due to this, we must utilize multimedia platforms. During the first week of isolation, I started an online campaign to collect pictures and testimonies of people living in quarantine. As the responses poured in, it was emotional and enlightening to learn how people were coping. From unemployment, high-risk individuals (whether they have an autoimmune disease or are in the 50+ age group) and some lucky enough to be unaffected, I can better process how COVID-19 affects our community. These responses and images have been digitized and will be available in a virtual exhibition at emuseum.org. In correlation to this “collecting,” I started a miniseries called “Cultural Insights: Interviews in the Creative Sector.” It came together organically. Originally, it was supposed to be a “feel good” series where creatives talked about their work. Nonetheless, how can one talk about their work without mentioning COVID-19? From there, it turned into a platform where creatives discuss who they are and highlight how they triumph through this hardship.

I feel more social now than before. I have at least two “Zoom” calls per day. Although an unusual time, I do enjoy the opportunity to connect and learn from my peers. Additionally, I am working on building the virtual footprint of my museum. When in a crisis, it is important to look for silver linings. I am unbelievably appreciative of my colleagues’ and community members’ time towards my project. By the time this is over, each person will likely know someone who has been affected by COVID-19. I hope to create a platform where we can better understand and reflect on current events.

Tory Schendel Cox 

The Virginia G. Schroeder Curator of Art