Image shows a collage of pencil sketches depicting a vote sticker in the middle, Washington Square Park, patterned face masks, a Black Lives Matter monument with names of police violence victims including George Floyd, protest signs reading "One Chance" "Save Our Future" and "Climate Justice Now," a breast cancer ribbon, and a sketch of Lauryn Hill.

Activism and the Pandemic

Quaran-zine is a series of artistic representations by Macaulay students reflecting on the impacts of the pandemic. This project showcases our perspectives on activism, art spaces, and self expression.

Created by Awestaa Zia, Lauren Renzoni, YaYin Ruan, and Sofia Maslova

This year, with the pandemic exposing enormous contradictions and inequalities in US society such as the widening wealth gap, activist movements have been working harder than ever. In May, following the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police, thousands of people safely attended protests, helped from home by donating to criminal and racial justice reform organizations, educated themselves and others on anti-black racism at the core of the US, and more in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. In New York City, places like Washington Square Park have been a place for people to gather and make themselves heard, and just in the last 6 months, it has been the site of safe anti Trump protests, pro democracy rallies, climate change initiatives and Black Lives Matter rallies.

In our zine cover, we wanted to emphasize the wide array of activist causes and initiatives that have made progress during the pandemic, highlighting the creativity of activist leaders who were quick to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions and embrace new ways of organizing and raising awareness. Socially distant methods such as chalktivism on sidewalks and plazas, placing signs outside of windows/porches/houses and on lamp posts/subways/etc, and social media activism have been driving conversations and action, especially with the recent presidential election. Creating this cover has helped us reflect on one of the few positives of the pandemic time – how activism has brought young people like us closer to each other in our interests in and passions for specific activist causes. Our view of activism has been widened, and now more than ever we feel that anyone can be an activist.

Image titled “Black Canvas” shows a green grass field with trees, glass panels, markers on the ground, and a sign “come and draw.”

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic transformed our perception of the use of spaces. Indoor businesses and institutions have to find outdoor alternatives. The pandemic has brought a new light to the use of outdoor spaces and the distances between people. “Blank Canvas” is an imagined art space in New York City. This space utilizes parks because these are public spaces people turn to for solace and relaxation during this pandemic. The glass walls are inspired by the plexiglass sneeze guards used by businesses to protect workers and customers. They will also be placed six feet apart like social distancing markers. Most importantly the translucent glass walls act as a blank canvas for collective public art creation. All visitors are invited to draw on these walls with markers or paint.

Image titled “Self” shows a pencil sketch portrait of a girl with bold eyes and eyebrows wearing a face mask, glasses and a zip up.

Not only did COVID-19 pandemic transform our perceptions of the way we use spaces, but it has transformed the way we perceive each other. While before our facial expressions were crucial to the connections we make with others, the addition of wearing a mask into our everyday lives has changed the way we are perceived, the way we perceive others, and our ability to make connections. “Self” shows how we are now perceived, with special details added to emphasize eyes, eyebrows, and the mask which are what now people see when they communicate with one another.

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