2gather-a-part

It started out as a queer burst of friendship between friends and a desire to connect at a moment when we had no idea what lay ahead, or how long the effects, restrictions, and impact of covid-19 would go on. We thought others in our networks might feel the same and extended an invitation to (try to) create space for our artist-community to connect through something familiar and reassuring in our practices: video making. It was a means to reach out while apart–to see each other, to hear each other, to hook up remotely and make sense of the immediacy of a pandemic, to negotiate helplessness, to reduce anxiety and panic, to show care and find kinship.

In March 2020 after WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, the Québec government declared a health emergency throughout the region of Québec, and the Canadian government advised Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada, a queer group of friends (Nik Forrest, Alanna Thain, Dayna McLeod, Jackie Gallant, Sarah Williams, and MJ Raposo), formed 2gather-a-part; a co-vid collective intent on bringing together artists for a collaborative video making project.* We all continue to manage and coordinate various aspects of this (ad)venture.

We made 19 videos based on an exquisite corpse format with various themes reflecting the interests of the larger collective of more than 70 artists.

We also set up a fundraiser for artists who were struggling through this hard time. If you’re able, contribute to this fund. All proceeds go directly to artists in need due to Covid-19.

Watch:

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 1 [suggested theme: Together Apart]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 2 [suggested theme: House of Co-vid: Quarantine collection, SS2020]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 3 [suggested theme: Co-vid care]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 4 [suggested theme: Surveillance]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 5 [suggested theme: Failing at Capitalism]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 6 [suggested theme: Listen]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 7 [suggested theme: Solidarity]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 8 [suggested theme: Weird Time(s)]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 9 [suggested theme: Vacation?]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 10 [suggested theme: What’s Next?]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 11 [suggested theme: Magical Animals]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 12 [suggested theme: So…2020?]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 13 [suggested theme: Back to School
]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 14 [suggested theme: Income Realness (Universal Basic Income)]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 15 [suggested theme: Lost Cities (no sound)]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 16 [suggested theme: Red Alert]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 17 [suggested theme: Ghosting (black & white)]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 18 [suggested theme: Infiltration (speed variation)]

Co-vid 19 exquisite corpse no 19 [suggested theme: New Beginnings/Happy Endings (sound only)]

*Past members of our administrative team include Sonya Stefan, who joined us briefly in June 2020 for a few months.