#Letters in the Time of Corona
Dear You,
You are invited to fill out this google form. Two human beings, Catharine and Ida, made it. We will read your response and we will use the information to write you or someone who you chose a real-life old school snail mail letter. We will send it to the address you put down.
This idea came from a conversation we had (Ida and Catharine) had while taking a walk six feet apart from each other:
Ida: All of the art being created over social media content during the Shelter in Place orders is really lovely. But sometimes it also makes me overwhelmed and sad how much is just thrown out there into the void while we are stuck inside. It’s hard to know what and when to make. It’s hard to know what and when to consume. Not that there is a right answer. All projects are probably good but-
Catharine: It would be nice to get a little more personal, and-
Ida: and like, to connect rather than to just produce.
Catharine: I miss being able to reach individuals.
Ida: I miss asking questions. What do we want to know?
Catharine: I want to know what the silly projects people are working on during this time. Like how right now I am teaching myself to do the splits. What are other people doing?
Ida: And they could be saying on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, they could be saying what they are doing. But I want them to tell me. I want to hear all the complicated insecurities and questioning and silliness behind what they are doing as much as what the actual thing is.
Catharine: Yeah.
Ida: I want to know what people are grateful for, missing, and what they are doing to take care of themselves during this time. I am taking three baths a day. Are other people?
After this talk we tried letter writing for ourselves. We did not send them through the snail mail but recording ourselves reading them (over Instagram) which was cheating but not cheating. The letters were for everyone else, while at the same time being just for each other. They were playful, fun and something to look forward to in these strange days.
So, fill out the form, if you want and we’ll write a letter. We also provide instructions on how to send a letter back to us and an opportunity to film yourself reading the letter out loud. We hope to eventually compile this in a short weird film of people reading us letters. But maybe not. We’re not worried about the product. We just want to see where it goes.
Be well,
Ida (and Catharine)
