Naming the Lost Memorials
Focus
Naming the Lost Memorials is a group of artists, activists, and folklorists who have been making public awareness memorials in New York City since May 2020. They invite people everywhere to join them in making memorials. As the United States nears 600,000 deaths due to Covid-19, Naming the Lost Memorials sees grassroots memorials filling a real need. “There has been no national day of mourning set aside for the Covid dead,” says folklorist Kay Turner. “So many people died alone, and burials and rituals have been deferred. While heads of state do not perform their solemn duties to comfort the afflicted and mourn the dead, the rest of us rise to confront this tragedy.”
History
A group of artists came together last spring who wanted a way to do something as everyone was feeling helpless about the situation.
Collection
Most of the collection (City Lore is the repository) is composed of digital photos of the different memorials made by the group and or those shared by others through our social media. The memorials which have been created are based on various themes (Day of the Dead, remembering the work done at hospitals, remembering those lost at nursing homes, for essential workers). There are also some materials from the memorials—banners (Naming the Lost in various languages, masks with names of those who have passed, decorated artwork done on templates created by artists associated with NTLM).
Form of Collection
Masks, paper templates (decorated), digital photos
Emphasis
It is City-wide, though we have some images from our social media shared by people from out of state.
Time Period
From Memorial Day weekend 2020 until present
Public Access
The repository is at City Lore and we have an archivist creating a guide for the materials.
Director
We are a collective of about 7 people who do the main organizing but many artists who help with the creation of the memorials.
Contact Person(s)
Kay Turner, volunteer organizer
Alexa Avilés, volunteer organizer
Email: namingthelostmemorials@gmail.com
Website: