Faces of the Pandemic, In and Out of Masks
| 10/22/20
Jon Dragonette tells the story of his project:
It started out as a personal photo project in my current hometown of Los Angeles, capturing on film how a global pandemic has reshaped the city's topography and the daily life of its people. But overnight it gained traction. Through social media over the past few months, I've received a tremendous amount of requests to do the same in cities and towns across the country. So far I've clocked hundreds of hours standing on street corners photographing over 400 people, and equally as many spent developing and scanning film; I've been inspired by every minute of it. And it's time to take this series on the road.
Documenting all of you during this bizarre, unprecedented time is such a crucial and pivotal moment in human history. Titled, The Corner of COVID and Main St., this photo series is much more than the documentation of a deadly disease but rather living proof that we are all created equal because a virus does not discriminate. No matter one's race, creed, color, or religion -- we are all in this together. Every day we are inundated with devastating news stories and staggering death tolls, but how will we remember the individuals and their stories?
The Corner of COVID and Main St. is being memorialized in the L.A. Natural History Museum's permanent collection which motivates me to reach as far and as many of you as I can. With all that being said, I come here humbly asking for your help to make it possible.
The Costs
This project has been nothing short of a labor of love. But it's also a cost-intensive undertaking that I'm realizing I cannot tackle alone. All money raised will be used for film, developing chemicals, gas, food, and lodging to get me safely from the west to the east coast and back west again.
How You Can Help
With just a little help from you and your circle I know we can together make this momentous project happen.
Share this link on your Facebook, post on your IG, email it to friends and family, help spread the word so we can reach as far and wide as possible.
I hope this inspires you, the same way you all have inspired me during this crazy time to keep this project going. I look forward to seeing all of your amazing faces and documenting your incredible stories when I hit the road. Leaving you with a beautiful portrait to cherish forever.
Thank you so very much for your time and anything you contribute; it really means a great deal to me and none of this would be possible without each and every one of you!
Where to donate:
The Corner of Covid and Main Street GoFundMe page
