In March of 2020, the world began to fall apart. We started what would be months quarantining in our tiny Harlem apartment and the ache for connection and community kicked in almost immediately. In an effort to carve out intentional opportunities for what wholesome, grounding collaborative time I love so much, I started Project Pass the Peace and posted this on my IG page:

“If you’re feeling isolated, disconnected, are worried about your friends who are facing unemployment, need something to soothe the soul, need a creative awakening, I am here for you. And I have a little salve I’d like to share.

I want to help raise money for artists out of work. I want to establish connection in an isolated world, I want to foster an intentional community. I want to bring you into my artist lounge and create something with you while we have the time and the space we don’t usually have. I want to soothe your soul a bit with the magic of art making.

Starting today, I am launching PROJECT PASS THE PEACE.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
1. Donate to Artist Relief Tree (see @morganpursley’s profile for info) or a similar cause of your choosing to help those facing unemployment at this time.
2. DM me a screenshot of your receipt, plus your availability for a video chat the next few days.
3. We commune. We choose a prompt for you. You share your stories with me. We collaborate on a 10 minute collage. Your voice, your spirit, my hands. We are creating something together, I’m just the one with the materials in front of me.
4. I send you a digital collage (germ free!) for you to cherish, and share if you wish. It will stand as a tangible representation of the connection we are all seeking and obtaining during this unprecedented time.

When @vegetable_soup and I were musing on this idea together yesterday she commented that the term “social distancing” is fairly inadequate. She mentioned that we are actually just physically distancing, and that what she is seeing, in many ways, is more effective and intentional socializing. People are checking in on one another. Having tough conversations. Finding ways to be there for one another while protecting their communities. Being clever and finding ways to play! It’s really inspiring. I’m inspired.

I hope I can add a little bit of good juju and help raise some funds for my fellow artists who aren’t as fortunate as I am to have remote work and job security during this crisis. May we all hold each other in the ways that we can. ✨ #artistrelieftree

I never expected to have over 30 participants or the great sustaining joy of continuing the project on throughout the year. These 5 x 7 pieces are safely stored away, waiting for their purpose (a gallery show? a zine?). I’m certain we will be mulling over this pandemic for quite sometime.