As the CDC lifted mask mandates making them a personal choice, life became more unsafe for those choosing to protect themselves.
I created this mask to represent the disheartening feeling of trying to stay safe while confronted with a maskless world. The zippers used to create this piece are interwoven in a way that no zipper can be closed, but they can each be completely opened, leaving full exposure. The sealed zipper teeth that remain sealed fight hard to stay protective while their stability is being threatened.
These photos are intentionally desaturated to represent the vibrancy of pre-pandemic life draining away as year three of the pandemic looms.