This N' That: 1/11/21
Amaru and Bat at home ©Erika Morillo
By Sara Beck
COVID stories from Latin America
“Historias COVID-19” (COVID-19 Stories) is an online exhibition that presents an active conversation between photographers about their experiences of the pandemic. Foto Féminas, a Latin American and Caribbean digital platform, has utilized Instagram to spark interest and showcase the photographic discussions that have enriched the show with such diverse subject matter.
While some of the artists featured focused on creating standalone images to capture the sentiments of lockdown, others chose to create their own series responding to a narrative thread. Foto Féminas split the show into two segments based on these choices—Stories, single photos published to the collective’s Instagram page, and Series, groups of images exploring various ideas. The exhibition is Foto Féminas’ first, curated by Verónica Sanchis Bencomo. As a whole, the photographs being showcased underscore a strange and unexpected aspect of the pandemic that, while responsible for so much isolation, in many ways, has also brought people closer together, nurtured a collaborative spirit within communities, and inspired a heightened sense of empathy for each other.
U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Randy Wren/Released
Photographs from the Capitol on Wednesday, January 6th
Last week, in a day that will surely live on in infamy, rioters, in support of President Trump, stormed the Capitol Building with the goal of overturning his defeat in November’s presidential election. Several photos were published of some of the tensest moments during which violence escalated.
The Washington Post compiled a series of photographs showcasing the danger that was present that day, the fear felt by many, and the damage that resulted from the attack. While some of the most powerful images depict crowds of people inciting and reacting to the chaos, there are a few still lifes, portraits, and landscapes that are just as heartbreaking and effective in illustrating the pain that still lingers on a massive scale.
The Human Voice. 2020. Spain. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Courtesy Sony Pictures Classic
MoMA gears up to show The Contenders for Oscar season
Members of the Museum of Modern Art now have the opportunity to stream the museum film department’s top choices for the upcoming Academy Award nominations. The standard annual showing of The Contenders has shifted to MoMA’s online platform this year. Due to the impact lockdown has had on the world and the film industry, typical eligibility standards for the Oscars have been adjusted. Each film chosen will be available to stream via the museum’s website for a select few days before being replaced by another. MoMA members can see which films are currently available to stream in preparation for the Academy Awards, which are scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 28th.
Suzanne Lacy contemplates the positive effects of screens and webcams
When it comes to the internet, many hone in on its perceived negative impacts. Suzanne Lacy, however, who is an important figure in the world of feminist art, prefers to focus on the benefits that web based video communication might offer. Lacy has included a class of fourteen of her MFA students at the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Art and Design in this conversation, concluding that interacting via webcam rather than inside the classroom can heighten the empathy that comes with a new awareness of one another’s realities.
The students are preparing for a series of performances entitled Come a Little Closer, which will be shared via the video communication platform Zoom, of course. Organized by 18th Street Arts Center, the event will offer a glimpse into various religious practices and cultural experiences. Come a Little Closer is set to take place on Thursday, January 14th at 5 p.m. PST. Learn more or register here.
