Pennsylvania’s First Lady Frances Wolf is soliciting submissions for an online photography exhibit documenting Pennsylvanians’ experiences of COVID-19.
The exhibit One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views covers three themes: our heroes, our lives, and our communities. Pennsylvanians, regardless of photography experience, are encouraged to submit up to three photos taken between March 2020 and the present-day for consideration. The submission period for One Lens opened on February 8 and closes on March 19.
First Lady Frances Wolf will also be hosting a series of conversations to accompany One Lens, each of which will cover one aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first conversation, a partnership with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, included PHMC Executive Director Andrea Lowery, State Library Director Sarah Greene, Pennsylvania State Archivist Tyler Stump and Rare Collections Librarian Mike Lear. Stump and Lear presented on the 1918 influenza pandemic and discussed the role Pennsylvanians today can play in documenting the current pandemic.
During the conversation, First Lady Wolf described the importance of documenting the present moment. “One Lens will be a photographic document captured by us, at the very moment of impact. Those who come after us and look back at this time for guidance, or out of simple curiosity, will be able to see what we saw, and feel what we felt during this time. Because of this, documenting the COVID-19 pandemic is imperative for the future of Pennsylvania,” First Lady Wolf said.
More information on One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views and submission instructions can be viewed here.