“A Crack in the Hourglass” is a participatory COVID-19 Memorial at the Brooklyn Museum. The exhibition sits at the intersection of art, technology, community and trauma stewardship and invites community members to memorialize loved ones lost to the on-going pandemic, providing a space (digitally and physically) to process grief and loss during a time which mourning remains elusive.

As the Community Outreach Organizer, I used my skill set, network and expertise to the hilt - (non-violent) communications, community outreach and organizing, crisis communication in the humanitarian response field, as well as arts marketing. My strategy, as always, was to be intentional about providing something meaningful to BIPOC and immigrant communities - populations disproportionately affected by the pandemic and adjacent issues. My engagement strengthened the art work itself, established processes and best practices for community care within the museum, as submissions to the archival website increased almost two-fold. This required deep thinking, active listening, care, empathy and intentionality.

To find out more about the intention behind community outreach and collective healing, watch an interview with Brooklyn Museum here and Art 21 here.