COVID - Stories of Unprecedented Times - Nikki Wellner

Photography
7 photographs, 7 x 5", 7 interviews

This project takes a look into how COVID has affected the lives of seven different people living and/or working in ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, Colorado and how they have had to adapt to this new way of living.

Wellner content

Person wearing a mask in front of a collage of newspaper cut-outs

Alicia

A portrait of Alicia Whitman, a CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ senior who caught COVID and has been suffering from the lingering effects. She is overlaid on a background that is a collage of multiple newspaper cutouts and headlines about the struggles of dealing with the lingering effects of catching COVID-19. This image is in black and white.

Person wearing a mask in front of a collage of newspaper cut-outs

Arsen

A portrait of Arsen Kashkashian, the general manager of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Book Store, who had to completely change and rework his entire business due to the effects of the pandemic. He is overlaid on a background that is a collage of multiple newspaper cutouts and headlines about how small businesses and bookstores have been devastated by the pandemic. This image is in black and white.

Person wearing a mask in front of a collage of newspaper cut-outs

Ashley

A portrait of Ashley, a CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ senior who lost her grandfather due to COVID-19. She is overlaid on a background that is a collage of multiple newspaper cutouts and headlines about how the elderly have been affected by the pandemic. This image is in black and white.

Person wearing a mask in front of a collage of newspaper cut-outs

Erica

A portrait of Erica Dahl, who as the owner of a small business, savvy on pearl, has had to implement many changes into her store and has suffered financially due to the pandemic. She is overlaid on a background that is a collage made up of multiple newspaper cutouts and headlines about how COVID has drastically affected small businesses. This image is in black and white.

Person wearing a mask in front of a collage of newspaper cut-outs

Lily

A portrait of Lily Tinniswood, server and hostess at Hapa Sushi Grill and Sake Bar, who has seen a drastic decrease in her salary as well as the salaries of all of her coworkers due to the pandemic. She is overlaid on a background that is a collage made up of multiple newspaper cutouts and headlines about the crippling impact that the pandemic has had on the restaurant industry. This image is in black and white.

Person holding a dog in front of a collage of newspaper cut-outs

Stacey

A portrait of Stacey Swetil-Rust, a volunteer and dog foster for From Forgotten to Forever Rescue, who has seen the changes first hand in adoption applications, foster applications, owner surrenders, spay and neuters, etc. caused by the pandemic. She is overlaid on a background that is a collage made up of multiple newspaper cutouts and headlines about how the pandemic has affected adoption rates and fostering. This image is in black and white.

Person wearing a mask in front of a collage of newspaper cut-outs

Valerie

A portrait of Valerie Knorr, director of sales and marketing at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa, who has had a change in her job and been greatly affected by the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on the hotel industry. She is overlaid on a background that is a collage made up of multiple newspaper cutouts and headlines about how the hotel industry has taken a hard hit due to the pandemic. This image is in black and white.

This project takes a look into how COVID has affected the lives of seven different people living and/or working in ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, Colorado. The audience is given insight into COVID’s effect on college students, a small business manager, a small business owner, hospitality industry workers, and an animal rescue volunteer. The purpose of interviewing different people of different ages and walks of life is to hopefully give the audience at least one person they are able to resonate with and maybe find comfort in the fact that they are not alone in the experiences they have faced throughout these isolating times. Each background in the photography series contains newspaper headlines and clippings that correspond with the COVID story of the person in the photograph.

Artist Talk