Patti Schwartz

The Stage Unmasked Photo Project Patti Schwartz

Over the course of a month, seasoned stage performers, musicians, pageant title holders, a non-profit group, families and our neighbors took to the stage. They all come from different backgrounds and are surviving the COVID-19 pandemic in their own ways. Each of the participants in the project were asked to pose in a manner which made them feel the most comfortable. The only requirement was that they posed both with a mask on and off. Utilizing the public stage at our local county park as the backdrop for this project, each of the participants submitted how they have been managing; what they missed the most and any other thoughts they might have regarding this very stressful time. Their words are connected to their photos. It is my hope that many of their stories will resonate to those that read them. We are all in this together and none of us should feel that we are going through this time alone. Ultimately, though, they are surviving. That was the primary purpose of the entire Stage Unmasked photo project. None of us are in this alone. We are all experiencing our own personal issues and surviving in our own way.