Objective:
We wanted to make our targets aware of the Free the Vaccine campaign and the Open COVID Pledge. We invited them for a conversation with us.
The Project:
The Thank You Cards were sent out to researchers as an appreciation of their work and efforts in investigating COVID-19. The Free the Vaccine campaign and the Open COVID Pledge was then introduced with a text tailored towards the recipient.
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Print it and send it!
What worked?
The Thank You Cards highlight the important work that the researchers have been doing, thanking them for their efforts without pressuring them.
About this project
Creators:
- Simbie Yau
- Heloise Widdig
- Magali Heijkoop
- Defne Zuhal Yorgancioglu
- Katharina Wolfenstetter
November, 2020
Hungary, Budapest
1890 × 2522 pixels
Download Original/High-Resolution File: Thank-You-Card-1.jpg
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Original files can be provided for exhibition
Reflections from Katharina Wolfenstetter
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
We wanted to find a way to contact our targets that wasn’t just an email.
Kasia told us about her lab’s action from season 1, where they identified “Covid research champions” and sent letters to thank them for their work and bring their attention to the Open Covid Pledge. We decided this would be a great way to contact our targets.
We discussed the fact that people love to get compliments and positive feedback about their work and how this would be the best way to our targets into a conversation. Starting a conversation on a negative note is likely not to be effective.
We decided to design a Thank You card with a bright and snappy message on the front and a simple, tailored letter on the other. In the tailored letter we referred to their specific work, achievement, and institution.
What skills or perspectives did the collaborators bring to this?
Simbie worked on the artistic input and brought together the amazing layout. The other collaborators worked on the targeting of specific researchers.
Objective:
The bracelet was used as a tactic to reach our targets when we interviewed them, especially in Colombia
The Project:
The bracelet was made by using thread, bead necklace and a needle with the loom technique. It reads the “Free the vaccine” legend with its institutional colours. Many members of the team have made them to reach the targets as a tactic .
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Make one!
What worked?
It was an initiative that motivated some members of our blue-feet group to acquire new skills and to implement this initiative as a creative strategy to get closer to the targets through art.
About this project
Creators:
- Jeimmy Katherine Ramírez Bermúdez
- Nelly Esperanza Agreda
- Laboratorio Blue-Feet Segunda temporada Free the Vaccine
November, 2020
Colombia, Bogota
25×3 cmx 0,5 cm
Other Notes:
Taking into account the identity created through the FTV colours and logo, we have reinforced it by creating a sense of belonging in the making of this bracelet. Moreover, this initiative can be replicated and done it by any member of this campaign. Feel free to imitate this tactic! (SPOILER ALERT: You will be training your patience, and your craftivism :P)
The design or layout of the bracelet was elaborated by Nelly Esperanza Agreda. Also, she taught the technique “beaded loom bracelet” to two blue feet members in order to start working on the bracelets needed to reach the targets.
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An original object can be provided for exhibition
- The work can be reproduced on site with instructions (provided)
Reflections from Jeimmy Katherine Ramírez Bermúdez
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
I wanted to learn how to create this type of bracelet since I was young, and the campaign gave me the opportunity to consider this idea and make it true. I think that the most beautiful part was the process of making the bracelet: getting the materials, being taught how to create it by a teammate and then, getting down to work. During the process, I felt like “a child with a new toy” in Christmas, I love doing these kinds of activities. I really felt a sense of fulfillment having learned something new that I could use in any field of my life.
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 like to set up a workshop/ Factory to create different products made by using bead necklace that would be related to the campaign. Bracelets, pendants, earrings with the bird shape, etc.… so many people around the world could get handcrafted objects of the campaign, especially all the members of FTV from all the seasons and every target that labs would try to reach out, among others.
Objective:
1) Create irresistible imagery for a media campaign to work towards our larger goal of having the University of Pittsburgh to Sign the Open Covid Pledge. 2) Raise awareness about Dr. Salk’s connection to vaccine research and open Intellectual property to the greater public. 3) Create a fun and timely halloween-centered work of creative activism
The Project:
Invoking the ghost of vaccine researcher Dr. Jonas Salk, we created humorous gravestones that echo his perspective about vaccine patents when asked about the polio vaccine he developed in Pittsburgh – “could you patent the sun?” Then we dressed up as Dr.Salk and distributed these gravestones (with linked QR codes to learn more) all over The University of Pittsburgh campus where current COVID-19 vaccine research is being done to encourage the same openness and support for a peoples vaccine that is the university’s legacy.
TRY THIS:
Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine
Channel the Ghost of Salk in your community.
What worked?
The creative community process! As a lab, the Juncos worked across different cities with different backgrounds to make this happen. Once we did this action we were empowered to keep going and this led to many more actions and activities in our efforts to get the University of Pittsburgh to sign the Open Covid Pledge.
About this project
Creators:
- Joseph Amodei
- Kisha Patterson
- Laura Holzman
- Lyam Gabel
- Erin Roussel
- Elin
October, 2020
Image/graphic, Installation/Intervention, Online/web thing, Performance
United States, Pittsburgh
various
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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)
Reflections from Joseph Amodei
What were some of the responses to this work?
People were really excited about the halloween timeliness of this work! It even spurred collaboration with another lab across the country (where Salk’s actual gravesite is) and resulted in more exciting imagery and proliferation of this people’s vaccine ethos.
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?
If there is no people’s vaccine next year (as in no promise to share the IP and the manufacturing technology of current vaccines with the rest of the world for free), then I would make the scale of this 1000x this first iteration to really draw attention to the harm that vaccine profiteering causes to the wider world outside of the USA and other wealthy (via extracted labor and colonialism) countries. In short, to continue to summon and make proud the spirit of Dr.Salk.
Objective:
Create language to support the larger goal of ensuring that publicly funded COVID meds are available to everyone, sustainably priced, and free at the point of delivery.
The Project:
This a slogan anyone can use in the campaign for a People’s Vaccine.
TRY THIS:
Put it on a poster.
Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine
What worked?
It’s short and sweet. The wordplay of “for good” positions accessible COVID medicine as both effective and morally necessary.
About this project
Creators:
- Free the Vaccine for COVID-19
August, 2020
,
5 words
Objective:
To honour the work of a campaigner
The Project:
A plastic golden cup on a black base with a Free the Vaccine Logo on the cup
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Make an award to celebrate someone’s great work.
What worked?
Publicly acknowledged the work/creativity of a campaigner
About this project
Creators:
- Irene Clarke
July, 2020
Canada, Ottawa
9 in H x 5 in W
Download Original/High-Resolution File: Golden-cup-2.jpg
Other Notes:
Award presented at Season Finale of Free the Vaccine Campaign
- An original object can be provided for exhibition
Reflections from Irene Clarke
What were some of the responses to this work?
Appreciation, pride by the award winner to have been acknowledged.
Objective:
To make a shareable graphic for social media about the campaign.
The Project:
An image of hands holding up a vaccine.
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine
Make it specific to your community.
What worked?
It was shared a lot.
About this project
Creators:
- Eric Olson
July, 2020
United States, Seattle
1500 x 1500 px
Reflections from Eric Olson
Objective:
To make content to share the campaigns message.
The Project:
A series of square graphics for social media or print.
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Print it and post it.
Share it on social media. #FreeTheVaccine #PeoplesVaccine
What worked?
They were shared often, as well as printed and wheatpasted in public spaces.
About this project
Creators:
July, 2020
Image/graphic, Online/web thing, Print
United States, Seattle
1500 x 1500 px
Other Notes:
- Original files can be provided for exhibition
Reflections from Eric Olson
To target the Technical Transfer Office at the University of Texas, I decided to make a gift box. Representatives at the office were not responding to my emails or phone calls, so I decided to go with generous snail mail. The gift boxes I made included handmade masks with the Free the Vaccine logo on it and coffee cups with the University of Texas logo on them (except I changed their tagline from “What starts here changes the world” to “What starts here SAVES the world”. It also included beautiful flyer of the Open Covid Pledge, article from the World Health Organization advocating for the pledge, and an imaginary cover of TIME Magazine with UT Pharmacy’s faces (see images).
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Make a version for your target.
Objective:
The main objective was to get representatives from the Technical Transfer Office at the University of Texas to respond to me, so that we can start a discussion about the Open Covid Pledge, on how to pledge making their research for COVID-19 free / available to all and how to make their therapeutics for COVID-19 sustainably priced. My tactic was to take a generous approach, to show that the Austin community deeply cares about their researchers’ efforts in ending the pandemic.
About this project
Creators:
June, 2020
United States, Austin
N/A
Download Original/High-Resolution File: IMG_6365-3.09.19-PM.jpg
What worked?
This was one of my first attempts to “craftivism,” as inspired by Sarah Corbett.
Other Notes:
- 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)
Reflections from Dannie Snyder
What was the process/journey of creating this work?
As mentioned above, I watched Sarah Corbett’s TED Talk on “craftivism”. This really inspired me to make a gift box for my targets. I did not really personalize the crafts to the targets themselves, but will try this the next time. Meaning, I will do more research on the targets – their interests, hobbies, history, etc. – and incorporate these elements into the crafts.
What were some of the responses to this work?
Unfortunately, I still did not get a response from the Technical Transfer Office. I actually cannot even confirm if they received the packages. Hence why I am considering sending another gift box…
Objective:
We wanted a meeting with VIDO-Intervac to discuss the Open Covid Pledge.
The Project:
This is a photoshopped image of all the VIDO-Intervac (Canada’s largest vaccine initiative) executives. I attached in an email to the communications director, the woman in the center.
Sample Interpretive Statment
STRATEGIES:
TRY THIS:
Make a version for your target.
What worked?
We thought that putting this woman in a photo with all the executives of her company would catch her eye and that she would be inclined to respond.
About this project
Creators:
- Olivia Bonardi
June, 2020
Canada, Montreal
variable
Other Notes:
- Original files can be provided for exhibition
Reflections from Olivia Bonardi
Objective:
We mailed this to the office of a UCSD sleep researcher who has received substantial Covid-related funding and is very active on social media, hoping he would amplify our message.
The Project:
A deep blue sleep mask embroidered with the words “Sleeping well… a vaccine is free” sits on red felt inside a wooden box with a sliding lid. The lid is painted with the words “Will you accept our dream?”
TRY THIS:
Make a version for your target.
Build a performance around it.
What worked?
We tailored this piece to this specific individual because he is a sleep researcher. It successfully taught us to consider our audience, although he did not respond.
About this project
Creators:
- Eshita Garg
- Eric Olson
- Mary Clare Rietz
- Jocelyn Edens
- Zeph Fishlyn
May, 2020
United States, San Diego
3x5x7″
Other Notes:
Reflections from Zeph Fishlyn
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?
Our next steps are continuing to target researchers and making more sleep eye masks. If I had a million dollars, it would be easier to get more (fancier) material to quickly roll out many more masks for the researchers. If I had all the time in the world, I would continue working on making the sleep eye masks non-stop and hope to get a bunch of people on board in helping us create these awesome, soft bundles of self-care!
If someone else were going to make/use/do something like this, what advice would you give them?
Teamwork makes the dream work! Feel free to take your time – homemade masks have an amazing feel to them and make it extremely personal for the researchers. Don’t be afraid to stalk your targets and create the masks specifically for them. Ask yourselves: what makes them unique and how can this mask reflect that? Research your targets and make sure to keep in touch with the targets throughout the process. We want them to be surprised and also for them to know we truly appreciate their work! We want the targets to rock those sleep eye masks and share our dream together.