What you should know
- A new outdoor installation at the Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York City is not just public art, but a special tribute: a tribute to those who died due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- “CoVIDA – Homage to Victims of the Pandemic” (or “CoVIDA – Tribute to the victims of the pandemic”), by the award-winning Mexican artist Andrea Arroyo, honors people who have died from the virus, recognizes the resistance of our community and recognizes the courage of the essential workers who are still on the front lines.
- The artistic tribute will be on display from November 2 to December 31.
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NEW YORK – A new outdoor installation at the Morris-Jumel Mansion in New York City is not just public art, but a special tribute: a tribute to those who died due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“CoVIDA – Homage to Victims of the Pandemic” (or “CoVIDA – Tribute to the victims of the pandemic”), by the award-winning artist of Mexican origin, Andrea Arroyo, honors those who have died from the virus, acknowledges the resilience of our community and recognizes the courage of the essential workers who are still on the front lines.
The title is a play on words that combines the word “COVID” with “life”.
The artistic tribute will be on display from November 2 to December 31.
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Handout/Bruce Katz
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For the installation, Arroyo was inspired by traditions from various countries and cultures around the world, combining elements such as: winged figures, used in various cultures to represent the universal concept of freedom; the urban landscape celebrating the healing of New York City; garlands of flowers in the traditional cempasúchitl color of the Day of the Dead; the traditional confetti; and ornaments that resemble traditional commemorative ribbons, wish trees, prayer flags, and altars.
Additionally, the installation features an important piece that requires public participation, as the tapes found throughout the installation will include the names of the victims of the pandemic. The public can submit names of the deceased in person at the Morris-Jumel Mansion and on the Roger Morris Park grounds, at satellite locations in the community and virtually completing an online form.
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Handout/Bruce Katz
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CoVIDA is installed at the gates of the Morris-Jumel Mansion and the Roger Morris Park fence. The mansion, a historic home from 1765, is the oldest residence in Manhattan.
“Due to quarantines and strict social distancing guidelines, people have not been able to come together to mourn as a community, be with their loved ones when they passed by or witness the magnitude of this tragedy across the country,” Arroyo said in a release. “In addition to acknowledging our cultural heritage and the land of the Lenape Nation in which we find ourselves today, CoVIDA recognizes that life continues during the pandemic, and as we reflect on the devastating loss of life, we look to the future with hope and celebrate the life that is here and now. “
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