Hartford, Connecticut

Picturing the Pandemic is proud to collaborate with the Hartford Public Library (HPL) and the Hartford History Center on our Hartford exhibition, which was on display from October through December 2022.

In addition to Pandemic Journaling Project images, the Hartford exhibition includes local materials as well, including works contibuted by documentary photographers Andy Hart, Jasmine Jones, and Ray Shaw to the Hartford 2020 collection commissioned by HPL.

Exhibition entrance, where visitors are invited to grab a journal and a pencil of their own - to share their story, and add their voice.
Visitors viewing images from the Hartford 2020 collection, by documentary photographers Andy Hart, Jasmine Jones, and Ray Shaw, which are on display along with images contributed to the Pandemic Journaling Project.
In Spring and Summer 2022, visitors to the library and UConn Hartford campus were asked to grab a post-it and respond to the question “Dear Pandemic, I am feeling very …”. A selection of responses are now on display.

Library programs

In the months leading up to the exhibition, we asked visitors to HPL and UConn’s Hartford campus to grab a post-it note and share their response to the question:  “Dear Pandemic, I am feeling very…”. A selection of responses was displayed as part of the exhibition (see above).

A poster for Picturing the Pandemic with a panel that invites vistors to attach their thoughts via post-it note, answering the prompt "Dear Pandemic, I am feeling very..." There are many post-its attached to the poster.

A poster at Hartford Public Library invites viewers to answer the prompt, “Dear Pandemic, I am feeling very…”

Images contributed to the Pandemic Journaling Project.

Melinda Das, 10th grader at Whethersfield High School, described how the pandemic has affected her - and how art and music have helped her find her bearings.

Children's Programs at HPL

In Summer 2022, we held children’s programs at six Hartford Public Library (HPL) branches, with generous support from UConn’s College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The programs focused on "how COVID has changed us, and how we can change the world." A collection of art created by children who took part in these programs was integrated into the exhibition.

Supplies from Picturing the Pandemic children's summer program at Hartford Public Library. Image shows art supplies and copies of the book Change Sings by Amanda Gorman.
Artwork created by a young participant in one of the Picturing the Pandemic children's summer program at Hartford Public Library. Drawing shows Zoom school on the left, and masked kids returning to school on the right.
Children’s artwork from our summer programs on display as part of the Picturing the Pandemic exhibition.