The Corona/Crown Project
The Corona/Crown Project honors front-line workers and everyday heroes, traveling through hard-hit communities and visiting medical areas
Two leading contemporary arts organizations, The Revolving Museum and ArtSpace Maynard, have teamed up this month on a bilingual, traveling public artwork titled “The Corona/Crown Project” – which honors the efforts of healthcare and agricultural workers, as well as the everyday people contributing to community wellbeing during the coronavirus pandemic.
The project comprises two vehicles including a transformed, 1952 Ford pickup truck covered in short poems that encourage vigilance to public health advice, and inspire hope. It hauls a trailer featuring a moving sculpture with poetry and coronavirus-inspired art. A second vehicle tows a 10-foot head sculpture sporting a bejeweled crown and cloth mask. More than 100 artists, young people, and community participants responded to an open call to contribute poems and artwork, including a series of “CURE CELLS” – artworks representing anti-viruses.
ArtSpace Maynard Executive Director Jerry Beck says “The Corona/Crown Project” will travel through areas of Greater Boston, Essex County and Worcester County, and will adhere to social distancing and personal protection recommendations. To avoid drawing crowds, the vehicle will travel through areas and neighborhoods where people can see it from windows or outside at a safe distance. It will visit locations where people line up for groceries and other essentials, and pass by traditional and makeshift hospitals. Locations and routes will be tracked on Twitter at @CoronaCrownArt, and using the hashtag #CoronaCrownArt.
The Project’s first journey sets out Tuesday, May 5th, leaving Maynard at 10 AM and traveling to Boston, where it will circle the Massachusetts State House and Boston City Hall, then travel along streets in the South End, Back Bay, Fenway and Mission Hill neighborhoods before heading to the Longwood Medical Area and Brookline, and finishing up in Brighton and Allston (final route TBD). On Thursday, May 7th, “Corona/Crown” visits hard-hit Spanish-speaking areas of Chelsea, Lawrence, Fitchburg and Worcester. Outings later in May include visits to veterans’ facilities and an outside event showcasing 1-minute films projected from the “eyes” of the sculpted head.
“The Corona/Crown Project” is made possible by DCU, Ledgerock Welding & Fabricating, SteelFab, Kevin’s Place Auto Repair, David Beck, Rebecca Hoffberger & The American Visionary Art Museum, and Minuteman Press of Fitchburg
Participating Artists
CURE CELL ART
Susan Huszar, Jack & Sam, Rachel Korn, Peggy McClure,
Liz Waldman, Diane Zipeto, Denise Shea, Marsha Nouritza Odabashian, Ollie (age 10), Amanda Loebelenz, Tracey Maroni, Judith Jaffe, Carole McNamee, Jason Daniels, Devorah Goldstein Daniels, Natanya Daniels, Rebecca Fredrickson, Gwen Murphy, Gunars Krollis, Gints Grinbergs, Catherine Evans, Andrew Child, Bill Cohn, Robyn Beck Buchwald, Kate James, Elizabeth Awalt, George Herman, Molly Paul, Jerry Beck, Coraly Rivera, Brenda Cirioni, Marjorie Kaye, Holly Martin Lauer, Stephanie Nichols, Steven Bogart, Erik Hansen, Angela Mark, Helen Obermeyer Simmons, Jane Hudson, Trina Baker, Gail Bloom, Glenda Littlehale, Country Pizza, Sharon Bernard, Kathleen T. Wright, Claudia Corujo, Kim Little, Karen Cevasco, Tammy Holden Bucchino, Nancy Sutherland, Annee Spileos Scott, Justin Freed, Madeline Irvine, Ann Nall, Sue Kim, Bob Caras, C.M. Judge, Kay Hartung, Yary Livan, Jane McKinnon Johnstone, Terry Dedrick, Ed Marshall
VIDEO/PHOTOGRAPHY
Peter Keto, Jason Daniels, Chuck Mayer, Matthew Krouch, Zannah Noe, Georgie Beck, Jerry Beck, Coraly Rivera
We wanted to create, with our community, a heartfelt appreciation for the devoted people who work in essential services, and to reflect the hardships that have befallen working-class and immigrant populations. This rolling exhibition is a reminder there’s life after devastation.
Coraly Rivera
Revolving Museum Artistic Director
Artists have always responded to make the world a better place. In the time of a stark public health crisis that has caused sickness and death across the world, art can demonstrate love, caring and encouragement, bringing thoughtfulness and healing to our communities.
Jerry Beck
ArtSpace Maynard Executive Director
