Beneath Our Skin:
COVID-19 Vaccination Storytelling & Art Exhibit
The Beneath Our Skin: COVID-19 Vaccination Storytelling & Art Exhibit showcases the artistic reflections and stories of Black Vermonters and white health care providers about their experiences during the early roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine. Clemmons Family Farm, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, gathered stories and art from participants who were either fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or not at all vaccinated against COVID-19.
Through the curation of a selection of very personal stories, the exhibit shares the spectrum of emotions experienced by Black Vermonters during the height of the global pandemic, ranging from fear and a deep-rooted mistrust in the medical system, to hope, joy and pride in Vermont’s early leadership in combating the spread of the virus. The exhibit also features the stories and artwork of three white healthcare providers who volunteered their time to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in communities throughout Vermont.
An innovation in the methodology Clemmons Family Farm used to gather stories is the integration of creative prompts and artistic expression to help participants describe their thoughts and emotional experiences as they encountered the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out. Most of the participants expressed themselves through narrative storytelling along with poetry, song, or visual art. The Beneath Our Skin exhibit showcases participants’ arts-integrated stories through audio, video, and print formats. Some of the original artwork featured in this exhibit showcases nine members of the Vermont African-American/African Diaspora Artists Network (VAAADAN), and includes poems by Djeli (formerly known as William Forchion), Rage Hezekiah, and Yanna Marie Orcel; songs by Samirah Evans and Khonsu X; and visual artwork by Celine Davis, Travon Groves, Harlan Mack, and William Mwanga.
The Beneath Our Skin COVID-19 Vaccination Storytelling & Art Exhibit is made possible through major funding by the Vermont Department of Health.
Through the curation of a selection of very personal stories, the exhibit shares the spectrum of emotions experienced by Black Vermonters during the height of the global pandemic, ranging from fear and a deep-rooted mistrust in the medical system, to hope, joy and pride in Vermont’s early leadership in combating the spread of the virus. The exhibit also features the stories and artwork of three white healthcare providers who volunteered their time to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in communities throughout Vermont.
An innovation in the methodology Clemmons Family Farm used to gather stories is the integration of creative prompts and artistic expression to help participants describe their thoughts and emotional experiences as they encountered the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out. Most of the participants expressed themselves through narrative storytelling along with poetry, song, or visual art. The Beneath Our Skin exhibit showcases participants’ arts-integrated stories through audio, video, and print formats. Some of the original artwork featured in this exhibit showcases nine members of the Vermont African-American/African Diaspora Artists Network (VAAADAN), and includes poems by Djeli (formerly known as William Forchion), Rage Hezekiah, and Yanna Marie Orcel; songs by Samirah Evans and Khonsu X; and visual artwork by Celine Davis, Travon Groves, Harlan Mack, and William Mwanga.
The Beneath Our Skin COVID-19 Vaccination Storytelling & Art Exhibit is made possible through major funding by the Vermont Department of Health.
Press coverage:
Clemmons Family Farm puts Black Vermonters' wellbeing at the center during 'Bliss Eclipse' | Vermont Public. May 28, 2024.
Art exhibit documents the Covid-19 vaccine experiences of Black Vermonters - VTDigger. May 7, 2024.
Exhibit tells Black Vermonters’ COVID vaccination experiences - The Charlotte News (charlottenewsvt.org). April 4, 2024.
