Material: Image/graphic

Making Masks for Statues to Free the Vaccine (for COVID-19)

Activists from the Free the Vaccine project stage a photo to urge the university to adopt open licensing for COVID-19 research

Objective:

We wanted to raise awareness and create public spectacle as part of a larger aim of engaging with Columbia on many fronts in trying to have them sign the Open COVID Pledge. The groups we seek to reach in building our case of support for #FreeTheVaccine includes reaching out to students, professors, researchers, alumni, community members, and anyone else who might be interested in having Columbia act as a leader in the area of making any future vaccine research accessible to not only it’s communities, but to the broader public.

The Project:

Columbia’s Alma Mater Statue Dons Surgical Mask for an Accessible COVID-19 Vaccine

NEW YORK, NY, May 19, 2020 – Alma Mater, the “nourishing mother” of Columbia University’s student body, sported an oversized surgical mask, sash, and vaccine bottle this weekend, as the Class of 2020 graduates into a world transformed. The iconic 1903 bronze statue sent her students off with a simple message: “Be Well.”

Nearby statues of “Alma’s friend’s” were also decorated with signage in support of an accessible vaccine. These images were created and then distributed to a variety of media outlets.

We also created a how-to video to encourage other folks to don friendly statues with masks of support in their locations.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

What worked?

We pulled together all of our different strengths as a Lab, and got good public response to the in person intervention. We also created some fantastic images that have bolstered our reaching out to folks connected with Columbia and our digital presence in general.

About this project
Creators:
  • Joseph Amodei
  • Rachel Gita Karp
  • Elizabeth Felicella
  • Connor Smith
  • Ashley DaCosta
  • Carly Besser
  • Nadine Baldasare
  • Victoria El-Hayek
  • Stacy Early
  • Beth Dunlap

May, 2020

Image/graphic, Installation/Intervention, Online/web thing, Video

United States, New York

variable

Public Domain

Download Original/High-Resolution File: salk_Columbia_highRes.zip

Other Notes:

We staged the scene to draw attention to a growing global campaign demanding open licensing arrangements for COVID-19 research and development efforts at universities worldwide. Such arrangements would help to ensure access to life-saving innovations developed with tax-payer funds. Columbia, located in the epicenter of the global pandemic, is one of the world’s foremost research institutions investigating vaccines and therapeutics to combat the virus.

  • A set of instructions exists on how to make this work
  • Original files can be provided for exhibition
  • The work can be reproduced on site with instructions (provided)

Links:

Reflections from Joseph Amodei

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

This project was the action that really cemented the relationship the Ligers share. We came together with different skills, backgrounds, and proximal locations to Columbia to make this project happen. It was fun, collaborative, and exciting!

What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?

We are talking about how to expand on this action in the fall! We would surround Alma Mater with a live counter of all those who have signed on with individual support in and around the Columbia community. This would take the form of some sort of giant mechanical object, or nightly projection-mapped interventions (all of course while Alma was wearing a mask).

The Vaccine Run

Objective:

We wanted to create images that would catch attention on social media- a little bit weird so people would feel inclined to interact with the images and learn more.

The Project:

My dog and I ran the shape of a vaccine. It was harder than we’d thought it would be.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Chart your own route.

Share it with your running group.

What worked?

It was unexpected!

About this project
Creators:
  • Olivia Bonardi
  • Lupo Bonardi

May, 2020

Image/graphic

United States, Boston

3 miles

Public Domain

    Original files can be provided for exhibition

What were some of the responses to this work?

I spoke with people along my route and afterwards through social media- they seemed skeptical, a little tickled, and curious to learn what would compel a person to do such a foolish thing.

What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?

I would make this go viral, have everyone out there running/walking vaccines (double good because it spreads awareness and gets people out exercising).

High Visibility. Low Risk.

Objective:

Our larger objective was to get Indiana University to sign the Open Covid Pledge. With this image we wanted to initiate the conversation in a way that wouldn’t be overlooked as easily as a typical email might.

The Project:

This is a screen shot of a section of an email that we sent to leaders at Indiana University. First we designed images of hand-decorated facemasks that connected the Open Covid Pledge to IU values. We then photoshopped them onto the headshots of IU leaders we were emailing about the Open Covid Pledge. We paired the image with text that highlighted how IU had already embraced open licensing in the fight against COVID-19. We emphasized that for IU, signing the Open Covid Pledge would be “High Visibility, Low Risk.” The email included relevant hyperlinks and a brief introductory message.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

What worked?

These messages combined images and language that we’d been exploring in other contexts – here it really came together cohesively. Also, everyone we sent these images to responded to us (although these images might not be why that happened).

About this project
Creators:

May, 2020

Image/graphic, Online/web thing, Writing

United States, Indianapolis

variable

Creative Commons BY-NC-SA

Other Notes:

Reflections from Laura Holzman

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

We initially wanted to do something that had a personal touch. We also wanted to connect signing the Open Covid Pledge to IU’s values and to celebrate a way that the university had already contributed to the open sharing of information related to the pandemic. An IU professor had designed an origami face mask and freely shared the pattern. We’d identified key IU values for a previous project, and we thought it might work well to put those values and a mention of the Open Covid Pledge on one of the origami masks.

It wasn’t feasible to send hand-painted face masks, so we came up with a digital alternative. Megan is a painter, so she made an image of the embellished masks. We considered just sending an image of the mask but decided instead to photoshop it onto the headshot of the person we were sending it to. That extra step made it more personal – and it’s hard to ignore a picture of your own face. By doing this we ended up making an image that envisioned the outcome we wanted – leaders at IU supporting the Open Covid Pledge.

We paired the image with some carefully written text – language that we hoped would be short enough that someone would read it, and language that made a clear case for why IU should adopt the Open Covid Pledge.

Another important factor here is that I’m a professor at IU – I sent the emails from my university address with a personalized note that explained that this was related to my scholarship. Even though this email didn’t make anyone immediately sign the pledge, we think it put the issue on a number of people’s radars and helped open up a conversation.

IU Stands for…

Objective:

The objective was to create an image that convinced people at Indiana University that they should sign the Open COVID Pledge. We wanted to use the university’s language and actions to show them that they were already doing things that aligned with the ideas behind the OCP.

The Project:

This is a digital image that highlights how signing the Open COVID Pledge aligns with Indiana University’s values and activities. We emailed it to university leaders.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

What worked?

We revised this project several times before we sent it to IU leaders – each revision made it stronger.

About this project
Creators:
  • Emilie Seibert
  • Laura Holzman
  • Sofia Hessler

May, 2020

Image/graphic, Online/web thing

United States, Bloomington

variable

Public Domain

Other Notes:

We did a lot of background research for this graphic. The first box filled with scattered words surrounding “IU Stands For” are words that come directly from IU’s missions, values, and goals statement. We wanted to show the university that if these are your goals then you should support the OCP. Additionally, “#IN this together” and “Fulfill the Promise” are both phrases/language that IU uses frequently. We then looked into what the university was already doing to support open access. As the graphic shows, we found that IU was using open access 3D printing designs to print PPE to fight the pandemic, an IU professor created an open access origami mask, and the university had created an open access database to track COVID information.

We’ve shared some of our drafts as well as the final image.

  • Original files can be provided for exhibition

Reflections from Emilie Seibert

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

I included some additional images of earlier drafts. The idea for this came in a group brainstorming session, we mostly wanted to find a way to use what IU was already doing to show them they can take the next step and sign the OCP. Emilie created the very colorful original design. The group then had another meeting where we refined the image. Laura made the drawings.

Why Should CureVac Sign the Open COVID Pledge? An Infographic

Objective:

Getting CureVac to sign the Open COVID Pledge.

The Project:

I sent the infographic to CureVac, a German biotechnology company that works on a COVID-19 vaccine. I additionally sent it to Dietmar Hopp, their main investor. The infographic gives 5 reasons why CureVac should sign the Open COVID Pledge.
Since Dietmar Hopp loves soccer (he is a big supporter of a German soccer team), I added that at the end, basically saying that signing the Open COVID Pledge would get him closer to “normal life” and watching/playing soccer again.
Dietmar Hopp has his own foundation and seems to be quite active with philanthropic actions. After the take over allegations of CureVac by the US he also mentioned that they aim for a fair access to their potential vaccine, which rendered CureVac and Dietmar Hopp as a potential target.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Make a version for your target.

What worked?

The graphical presentation of the subject hopefully makes it easier to grasp the problem and is also visually appealing.

About this project
Creators:
  • Katharina Wolfenstetter

April, 2020

Image/graphic

Germany, Berlin

800 × 2000 pixels

Creative Commons BY-NC

Other Notes:

  • Original files can be provided for exhibition

Reflections from Katharina Wolfenstetter

Free the Vaccine Snapchat filter

Objective:

To use the filter to generate awareness about Free the Vaccine and its aims. Also, to run this filter in Zoom meetings using SnapCamera (https://snapcamera.snapchat.com/) so that people would ask about the image connected to my head. This sparked many conversations about Free the Vaccine!.

The Project:

This is a Snapchat filter I created that sports the Free the Vaccine Logo as a face-tracking headband.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Use it.

Redesign it.

What worked?

This work generated a lot of questions and a lot of joy!

About this project
Creators:

April, 2020

Image/graphic, Online/web thing

United States, Brooklyn

Digital

Public Domain

Download Original/High-Resolution File: freethevaccine-Snap.gif

Other Notes:

  • A set of instructions exists on how to make this work

Links:

Reflections from Joseph Amodei

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

It was exciting to use my new media art skills to adapt an activism strategy that evolved from the situation created by the pandemic (i.e. living on Zoom).

What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?

I would make more filters, create them in all different languages, and publish them across a wider variety of platforms.

If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?

This type of internet/new media work is easier to get into than one might think! Give it a try!

Respiratory Therapists for a Free Vaccine

Objective:

To get front line workers that work to save the lives of COVID-19 patients to show their support.

The Project:

A team of respiratory therapists from the hospital that recorded the first COVID-19 death in the United States, EvergreenHealth Medical Center, outside of Seattle, WA, took pictures holding signs calling for a free vaccine.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine

Make a version with people from your community.

What worked?

Compelling images

About this project
Creators:

April, 2020

Image/graphic

United States, Seattle

3024 x 4032 px

Public Domain

Link to Original or High-Res file

Other Notes:

Reflections from Eric Olson

What was the process/journey of creating this work?

While thinking about ways to create images of people showing their support of the Free the Vaccine campaign, a respiratory therapist friend (the people who put critical patients on respirators) told me about his recent short stories reflecting on the experience of working at the first hospital overwhelmed with COVID-19 hospitalizations and with the first recorded COVID-19 death in the United States. I later reached out to him to see if he and his colleagues would do a photoshoot and they were happy to help.

Plants for Covid Research Champions

Objective:

Two things – firstly it provides a strong physical and visual way to create a movement of appreciation, that is easy to share, easy to participate in, and ethical in its design (both environmentally and for social distancing / shielding).
Secondly, it is a positive and celebratory way to get the attention of scientists and researchers, building awareness at multiple levels of an institution about the Open Covid Pledge (not just the TTO offices, but the scientists who might be more sympathetic). This helps put more pressure on the institutions as we build supporters.

The Project:

In appreciation of those researching treatments, diagnostics and vaccines for Covid-19, we dedicated plants to Covid Research Champions. Anyone could join in with a plant dedication, and as long as they tagged us on twitter or insta, we made sure the scientist was aware of it.

STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:

Dedicate a plant.

What worked?

The positivity of it was what worked best – as seen in the responses from scientists.

About this project
Creators:

April, 2020

Image/graphic

United Kingdom, London

490 × 874 534KB

Other Notes:

If there was a flaw, it was that there were perhaps too many steps to be simple – we were open about which researchers to target, perhaps we should have focused more on just one or two and bombarded them with flowers and dedications.

  • A set of instructions exists on how to make this work
  • An original object can be provided for exhibition
  • Original files can be provided for exhibition
  • The work can be reproduced on site with instructions (provided)

Links:

Reflections from Rachel Reid

What were some of the responses to this work?

Nice responses from scientists thanking us for the dedications
Positive engagement from colleagues outside our team within Free the Vaccine, and friends with their kids, who did their own dedications.

What would be your next steps, building on this idea, if you had a million dollars and all the time and skills in the world?

More targeted on individuals, more sharing to get a real movement going on. More planting!