PA Residents Asked To Share Coronavirus Experience Through Photos

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania residents are invited to participate in a new initiative led by First Lady Frances Wolf that highlights experiences with the coronavirus.

Residents can now submit photos for the "One Lens: Sharing Our Common Views" project.

Wolf announced the statewide virtual photo exhibit in January and its mission to celebrate the hard work and commitment of all Pennsylvanians as we continue our fight against coronavirus, as well as create a visual record of this historical moment.

Full information about the exhibit and how to participate is available online here.

"It is very exciting to begin collecting photos" Wolf said. "Since we launched the One Lens initiative, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from individuals across the state who want to share these pieces of their lives. And not every story is going to be about picking up new hobbies and finding bright spots during this time, but that’s what we want to convey. Every story, no matter how sad and no matter how frustrating, matters. These are our stories as Pennsylvanians, and they need to be remembered and honored."

One Lens seeks to highlight the importance of preserving history by residents sharing their experiences with coronavirus through photography.

Submitted images will be displayed for public viewing and archived as visual documentation of the pandemic.

By using photography as the medium to tell these stories, One Lens also emphasizes using art as a tool for Pennsylvanians to cope, heal and inspire one another, according to an announcement from the state.

The exhibit covers three themes: "Our Heroes," which pays homage to the pandemic heroes who cannot stay home; "Our Lives," which  looks at how we spend our time when no one is watching; and "Our Communities," which showcases Pennsylvanians uniting in the face of a global health crisis.

Submissions are open until March 8 and the full exhibit will be released on March 19.

In preparation of the exhibit, five ambassadors were selected to represent the central, northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest regions of the state. They are Porcha Johnson, James Hamil, Ceasar Westbrook, Shannon Maldonado, and Matthew Galluzzo, respectively.

These regional ambassadors will use the connections to their regions to ensure that the One Lens exhibit reflects the experiences of Pennsylvania’s communities.

Photography experience is not required to contribute to the statewide exhibit.

Full details on the project are available here.