Virtual photo exhibit to document Pennsylvania's covid-19 experience

Down through American history, photographers have documented both good times and bad. Some of the most striking images have come from wars and economic turmoil such as the Great Depression.

With Americans now living with the covid-19 crisis, Pennsylvania’s first lady Frances Wolf has announced the launch of a statewide virtual photo exhibit to document Pennsylvania’s pandemic story. She is looking for images to fill an online exhibition titled “One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views.”

The exhibit, open to anyone, is designed to document the hard work and commitment of Pennsylvanians in the fight against covid.

“We are living through an extraordinary moment right now,” said Wolf. “How we live, how we communicate, and how we educate our children have changed drastically since last March, but we all still yearn for a sense of community because that’s what reminds us of our own strength and tenacity.

“The One Lens exhibit is an extended community for Pennsylvanians, one where we can share our stories, inspire each other, and help each other heal while creating our history of this time.”

The photo submission period begins Feb. 8 and remains open through March 8. A maximum of three photos per person may be submitted.

The images selected by the First Lady’s Office and the Pennsylvania Tourism Office will be displayed online starting March 19.

The exhibit covers three themes: Paying homage to the pandemic heroes who cannot stay home, looking at how Pennsylvanians spend their time when no one is watching, and showcasing Pennsylvanians uniting in the face of a global health crisis.

In preparation for the exhibit, five “ambassadors” were selected to represent different parts of the state, including Matthew Galluzzo, president and CEO of Pittsburgh’s Riverlife.

“This process is really about capturing those slice of life moments, the poignant, the mundane elements of the lived experience. It’s not a photo competition. Participants don’t need photography experience to submit their pieces,” said Galluzzo. “You’re literally going to be able to snap a photo from your phone or pull one from your photo roll over the last 10 months and upload it. I think it’s an intriguing way to document this period.”

Information on the project and rules for participation are at pa.gov/one-lens.