Sun Hong

Artist Statement: My inspiration for this commission to document Essential Workers during Covid-19 was to focus my lens on what is essential to the heart of a community. I did not want to only focus on first responders but to include and highlight the individuals and organizations that kept showing up for their community day in and day out. . .from the UPS delivery person to the coffee shop owner serving up lattes and a smile. The gallerists, the dancers, the pet groomers, the housing advocates, the mutual aid volunteers. . . all of these people, as well as others, have been Essential to helping their communities during Covid-19 by just staying present and involved and providing some semblance of familiarity, reliability and safety during a time when there was so much uncertainty about how we were all going to survive.

I think it is important to emphasize why these photos were taken and the time frame during Covid-19. That these are real community members, not actors or models.. but real people that all tried their best to keep going and helping during Covid. That some of the organizations/businesses did NOT survive the economic effects of the Pandemic.