Creating in the Time of COVID

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Selections from The LGBT Community Center National History Archive's LGBTQuarantine Archive Project collection

Welcome to one of three exhibits highlighting contributions to The LGBT Community Center's LGBTQuarantine Archive Project, an open call to collect stories representing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine on our community.

Untitled [Illustration] (2020) by Belize P. Hernandez (she/they)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Creating in the time of COVID

Many in our community have used their creative and art-making practices as a source of healing and self-expression to process experiences in quarantine during the COVID-19 health crisis. These creative explorations consist of a diverse array of mediums and subjects, each capturing the artist’s thoughts and experiences. 

This Season, Covered Faces are the Newest Fashion Trend (2020) by Belize P. Hernandez (she/they)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

This season, covered faces are the newest fashion trend by Belize P. Hernandez

What are you drawing hope or strength from right now? “That the only way we can get through this is together. That the only way I can personally get through this is sober. That I can use this time to make art, personal art, bad art, art you won't ever see, art that satisfies only my tastes.” Belize P. Hernandez

My Hair’s Getting Longer, My Ear Still Hurts 4-3-20 (2020) by Belize P. Hernandez (she/they)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Paper Doll from "Goodbye Rebecca & Eileen" (2020) by Sarah Hill (they/them/theirs)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Paper Doll from "Goodbye Rebecca & Eileen" by Sarah Hill

Paper Doll from the Film "Goodbye Rebecca & Eileen." http://sarahhill.org/Goodbye-Rebecca-Eileen

Untitled [Illustration] (2020) by Peter Schepper (he/him/his)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Untitled [Illustration] by Peter Schepper

“I was out of work from both of my jobs and had free time on my hands. I decided to start creating whether art, or poetry. I was feeling very alone and frightened. And very angry at the current climate of politics.” Peter Schepper

Super (2020) by La Raya FanzineThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Super by La Raya Fanzine

Creators of La Raya Fanzine and lesbian couple Ida Galván and Jara Perdomo describe this work as “a comic strip about how Jara used to dream about going to the supermarket before the lockdown, and now, she can't dream about anything.” What are you drawing hope or strength from right now? “We think that the pandemic too, will pass eventually. We focus on our daily routine taking a ‘stoic’ approach. Working, cooking, enjoying our time together, working out, etc. Not thinking about anything too much (or trying, at least). We try to focus on the positive things too: more time together, not catching the virus, our family are ok...Like Lady Gaga said to Ariana Grande: ‘We wish we were dry, but at least we are alive, so.... rain on me.’”

Super (2020) by La Raya FanzineThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Super (2020) by La Raya FanzineThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Quarantine Moon (2020) by Rachel Pitkin (she/her/hers)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Quarantine Moon by Rachel Pitkin

“People have experienced similar and worse circumstances before, and I know that if we emerge safe and healthy, we will be able to survive these conditions just as many folks from the past were able to do as well. Lots of times I think about my ancestors-- what they lived through and experienced-- and it gives me hope and strength.” Rachel Pitkin

Quaranzine: In Quarantine with My Parents and My Partner (2020) by Pearl Wong (they/them/theirs)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

In Quarantine with My Parents and My Partner by Pearl Wong

Created during an online zinemaking workshop lead by Pearl for Q-Wave, a grassroots organization of lesbian, bisexual, trans, and queer women and gender non-conforming/non-binary folks of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. http://www.q-wave.org/ 

Quaranzine: In Quarantine with My Parents and My Partner (2020) by Pearl Wong (they/them/theirs)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Quaranzine: In Quarantine with My Parents and My Partner (2020) by Pearl Wong (they/them/theirs)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Quaranzine: In Quarantine in with My Parents and My Partner (2020) by Pearl Wong (they/them/theirs)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Quaranzine: In Quarantine in with My Parents and My Partner (2020) by Pearl Wong (they/them/theirs)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Untitled [Tin Type Self-Portrait] (2020) by Felicita Maynard (they/them/theirs)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Untitled [Tin Type Self-Portrait] by Felicita Maynard

"[The pandemic] has impacted everything from my job, to my mental health to my relationship. I haven't seen my partner in 3 months. My art gigs have been canceled and I have been working about 50+ hours a week. I need a vacation." What are you drawing hope or strength from right now? "My ancestors." Felicita Maynard

Untitled [Self-Portrait] (2020) by Robert R.The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

A Apple Pie Anew (2020) by Patrick Costello (he/him/his)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Quote (2020) by Patrick CostelloThe Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Still Valid With or Without a Parade (2020) by Chanel Manicato (all pronouns)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Still Valid With or Without a Parade by Chanel Manicato

“The resilience and creativity of Queer and Trans people of Color will continue to be something I am in awe of. Witnessing the ways artists and creatives have showed up to share work and encourage hope during a global crisis has given me strength to share my own art [...] This year with most large events being cancelled, I worry about the message to LGBT folks who won’t get their experience. I decided to create an image to remind us that no event, corporate or otherwise, will ever validate the beauty and pride of who we truly are. No Parade, Same Pride.” Chanel Manicato

Quote (2020) by Chanel Manicato (all pronouns)The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center

Excerpt from answers to the Archive Project's questionnaire checking in with each contributor.

Credits: Story

Curated by Veena Bobba in July, 2020 for The Center Archive. Special thanks to Dante Hussein, Caitlin McCarthy, and Avery Novitch--and all of the contributors to the project.

Titles in brackets were supplied by the curator.

To learn more about and contribute to The LGBTQuarantine Archive Project, visit https://gaycenter.org/lgbtquarantine/

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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