Masks

In April 2020, the Center for Disease Control officially recommended the wearing of face masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19, consequently the most common object submitted to this exhibition was the cloth face mask. Commercially produced surgical masks were largely unavailable, resulting in a wide variety of cloth masks being produced and worn. These masks reflect both the practical response to shortages and a renewed emphasis on craftsmanship made possible by extended periods in the home. While masks have historically been to shield identity, many of the masks submitted reflect the human need for expression and connection during a time of social distance.