Stories of Wisdom from Bodies in Separation (SWaBS):
Archiving the Coronavirus Pandemic Through the Lens of Humanities
A Space Between Seasons
by Christopher O'Brien
Photographs, poetry, musings, quotes, and a featured story are included in this mixed media digital zine created by Christopher O’Brien, who lives and works in the small, rural town of Finland, Minnesota. In his own words, Christopher describes his creative project in this way, “’A Space Between Seasons’ is a digital zine consisting of photos, visual representations, writings, musings and a short story investigating themes, topics, and quotes produced throughout the interview process. This zine will delve into the themes of: The bifurcation of human and nature; Back to the land; Radical trust; Metaphorical Masking; Pandemic as a portal; Place and space as Political Identity; Resilience and adaptation; Stranger danger; Isolation; Dichotomous joy; Unsettling; Borders.” The interview process that Christopher mentions refers to the eleven oral history interviews he conducted with community members in the Northeastern Minnesota region about their experience of living during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stories of Wisdom from Bodies in Separation (SWaBS): Archiving the Coronavirus Pandemic Through the Lens of Humanities has been made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this project, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
To see the full interviews
and media for this project
Visit Archive
To contribute your own materials to the Northeastern Minnesota COVID-19 Community Archive Project, please Visit Library