Black Lives Matter Rally • Old Town, Fairfax
PHOTOS BY KEVIN KRISKO
J O R DY N C A L D W E L L
ARTS STUDENTS BECOME
COMMUNITY LEADERS Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, our country has been experiencing a reckoning with crucial matters that affect our society as a whole. From an unexpected health crisis to issues of racism and social injustice, the Mason community has been deeply impacted by these events. Many of our students have stepped up to the plate by utilizing their art to create awareness of these problems, as well as galvanizing their peers into action to provide solutions.
PHOTO BY JAMES PROCHNIK
“ From an unexpected health crisis to issues of racism and social injustice, the Mason community has been deeply impacted by these events.”
Art student Sisc Johnson created “Lost in Pandemic, Collaborative Isolation,” a collaborative project for which she solicited images from more than 60 artists and photographers around the world—a group that includes Mason faculty and fellow students. The result is a gripping, single collection that depicts each individual’s personal experience during quarantine, while inspiring a sense of connectedness through this global reality. Theater and film student Jordyn Caldwell rose to the occasion as an activist when she—along with Sandy Shafik, a Government and International Politics major—organized a Black Lives Matter rally in Old Town Fairfax. The peaceful event had over 1,000 people in attendance. The rally featured an impressive cohort of speakers, including her father Robert (a friend of the late George Floyd), her mother Felicia, a member of the local NAACP, and a motivational speaker.
S I S C J O H N S O N C R E AT E D “ L O S T I N PA N D E M I C ,
SARA WOFLEY raised $700 for Justice for Breonna Taylor with her illustrations.
Film student Sara Wofley became a fundraiser for worthy causes during the lockdown. She was inspired by illustrations circulating on social media and decided to learn the art form. After noticing a compellingly positive response to her own illustrations, Sara moved to use her new skill to garner support for causes in which she believes. Within a few days, she received dozens of commissions and raised hundreds of dollars for Justice for Breonna Taylor.
C O L L A B O R AT I V E I S O L AT I O N ,” A P R OJ E C T F O R W H I C H S H E SO L I C I T E D I M AG ES F RO M M O R E T H A N 6 0 A R T I S T S A N D P H O T O G R A P H E R S A R O U N D T H E W O R L D.
CVPA 2019-2020 ANNUAL REPORT 8 PHOTO BY GUS POWELL
PHOTO BY VIRGINIA HUERTA
