Using art to learn more about COVID-19

Using Art to Learn More About COVID-19

During the Spring 2022 semester, students enrolled in BIO397: Biology of COVID-19 investigated the current scientific literature regarding the pandemic. Additionally, they explored the lived experience, reflecting on how the pandemic affected them, their friends and family members, and others. As part of this exploration, they engaged with the Davidson College art collection and thought critically about 1) how art can convey information about COVID-19 to a general audience and 2) how we can interpret works of art within the broader context of public health.

Working in pairs, students identified pieces in the Van Every/Smith Galleries’ collection that they thought exemplify some aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic and our public health response. They were encouraged to think broadly when selecting these pieces. Each pair wrote a curator’s statement about their piece, which are displayed here. Also, each pair wrote a more academic essay about their topic of interest. These essays can be accessed via the QR codes associated on the labels for each piece of art.

As you view this exhibition, we encourage you to think about your lived experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that the art will help you process some of the disruptions that have affected all of us.

Faculty: Dr. Dave Wessner
Students: Kiki Fagan ’22, Hannah Gould ’22, Finlay Holston ’22, Mary Kaufmann ’22, Bryan Kirk ’22, Cathlen Krabak ’23, Era Mero ’22, Anna Montgomery ’22, David Peng ’23, Danai Psaradelli ’22, Siena Senn ’22, and Nella Tsudis ’23