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Tolu Olade, Emergency Medicine (ER) Physician
Tolu Olade, Emergency Medicine (ER) Physician
Tolu Olade, Emergency Medicine (ER) Physician

Tolu Olade, Emergency Medicine (ER) Physician

Artist Jennifer Loomis
MediumDigital Photograph
Dimensions30 x 24 in. (76.2 x 61 cm)
ClassificationsPhotograph
Credit LineSeattle City Light 1% for Art Portable Works Collection
Subject Statement: I’m an Emergency Room Physician. I’m still working but now I feel more human with the pandemic because this affects everyone. It makes me feel more vulnerable when I’m treating others. It’s affected me more than anything. I feel almost helpless. I have to go to work. I love being important but the term essential worker doesn’t feel good. It’s not a title that I’m proud of. I know that sounds bad, but it’s how I feel.

I’m usually happy and smiling at work. I’m never truly in a bad mood no matter what is going on. Even if having a bad day towards others, I’m still quite happy. But the past five months have been tough. 

Artist Statement:  I approached this project with the belief that collaboration with the photo subject is imperative for creating more authentic images. I took this a step further and asked my community to help me define the word “essential workers” and asked them to nominate themselves or others to be photographed. Wanting my images to match the ethnic and cultural demographics of my neighborhood, I used the 2010 Census data to assist me in selecting participants.