In March of 2020, our world changed in ways that were previously unimaginable. Public places of business closed, classes pivoted to an online format, and individuals experienced the mental and physical repercussions of a global pandemic that killed millions of people worldwide. The students, faculty, and staff of the Department of Arts Administration were no exception—collectively and individually, we struggled to maintain connection, stave off loneliness and fear, and adapt to new ways of teaching, learning, and researching.
The objects and ideas in this gallery represent a range of creative responses to the challenges of COVID-19 by AAEP department members, from remembering and documenting specific events, wrestling with personal and professional obligations, and forging new work as a tangible form of hope in the future. They serve as beacons, calling us to move toward rich visions of possibility and promise that are only possible through resilience, innovation, and community.
This exhibition is offered in conjunction with the 2023 Barnett Symposium Resilient Artists, Resilient Communities, held on October 27 & 28, 2023.
Image: De’Avin Mitchell, AAEP doctoral student, In My Home (2023), Digital video still