Transforming Grief: Loss and Togetherness in Covid-19 (English)

Curator: Raven Spiratos

In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across Tkaronto/Toronto. This immediate transformation caused many to be left with a real sense of unease, forcing us to change how we go about our daily lives and interact with others. Some were pushed outside, onto the front lines. Others lost loved ones. Most were lonely and many grieved.

It surprised many to learn that grief can be a reaction to events other than death. There is no true order to grieving. Like water, grief is non-linear. We may feel out of our depth, our fears resulting from the shadowy thoughts of the unknown. Occasionally the cascading waves of emotions that crash down on us are too heavy to bear. Or there is a sense of numbness, stagnant in our inability to move past a major loss.

And yet, throughout the pandemic, community members also spoke of unexpected positives. We celebrated how rapid innovation transformed challenges into opportunities, filling our empty cups with much-needed creativity and collaboration.

While not always comfortable, grief’s ever-changing ebbs and flows are a natural part of living. Remember Tkaronto means “where there are trees standing in the water” in Kanienʼkehá:ka. So, follow that water. Clearer, calmer waters are just on the horizon.

This exhibition brings together interviews, art, and artifacts. They represent the collective voices of community members, artists, front-line workers, activists, and volunteers, and convey how we experienced and continue to experience the pandemic. These are their stories, your stories, and our stories.

“The pandemic has opened our minds to the fact that we are all things, are connected, that we need each other.” – Chief Stacey Laforme, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation

“The pandemic has brought many types of loss including loss of lives, time with loved ones, and sense of belonging.” – Dr. Judith Seary

“Grief, sadness, and life along with death, COVID-19- has taught us to be kind and respect everyone we meet. We learned a lot from COVID-19 – you taught us a whole new world.” – Jennifer Connolly, Toronto Home Child Care