Water remembers and trees breathe

By Becci Davis

9" x 12" Mixed media on paper (watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, digital drawing and collage)

COVID-19 has forever changed humanity. Its effect on the Western hemisphere though, has been unique, creating a challenge for memorializing this moment. The goal of this memorial is to create a speculative space to grieve, reflect, remember, and document this time, acknowledging the various ways the pandemic has impacted our lives.

There are three primary symbolic elements of this memorial: water as a receptacle for memory; a forest referencing both the preciousness of breath and significance of nature as a place of solace and refuge during the pandemic; and portals which reference the importance of shared experience and the ways that our bodies have navigated space over the past year.

The portals are two black domes, each surrounded by its own watercourse and an earthen bridge leading up to its entrance. The smaller dome can host one person at a time and houses a recording booth for visitors to document their personal experience during the pandemic. The larger dome can hold up to 100 people with spaces to sit and stand. This darkened space has one entryway and a separate exit. It features an expansive night sky projected on the inside of the dome. The narratives recorded in the smaller dome will be witnessed in this space, transforming individual memories into collective ones.

As visitors exit the larger dome, they access a field with curved benches. These benches can seat up to six people and are six feet (1.8 m) from each other symbolizing social distancing and pod formation. This area encourages memory sharing and connection among small groups. The surrounding forest serves as a space for walking, meditation and reflection. Trees create and release oxygen through photosynthesis, making them an apt metaphor for commemorating those lost to the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the respiratory system.