Big Slow Majestic Memorial ⚕️
Naming those lost to covid
A procession in Brooklyn, New Orleans jazz perfuming the air, the pouring of libations, the work of mourning & remembrance, murmurs from the other side.
We gathered at Green-Wood Cemetery. Along the iron gates hung an art memorial, tributes from 20 different communities. We followed the marching band, Ricky "Dirty Red" Gordon & The Individuals of Peace, past the gothic arch to the historic chapel. At the steps of the oratory we witnessed ceremony. Musicians, singers, dancers, poets from African, Arabic, Garifuna, Jewish, and Mexican traditions.
We participated in community ritual & created an ephemeral public monument to commemorate our many losses and recognize those currently suffering.
‘Naming The Lost Memorials is a small team of artists, activists, and folklorists that has been curating memorial sites in New York City to name and remember victims of the COVID-19 pandemic since May 2020.
NTLM offers New Yorkers an opportunity to collectively channel unexpressed grief from a pandemic which shredded the social fabric of daily life.’
I’ve attended this local event for the past few years. Since then Covid precautions have eased, “we’ve put it behind us”. Yet I feel myself grasping for lost time that slips threw my hands like it has these past 11 months.
Whether it’s the pandemic, palestine, or another painful event, in a desperate attempt to chase normalcy, to what “felt” like a simpler time, we prioritize our own comfort over the safety of those around us. For others, there is no going back to business as usual even after the news cycle has moved on.
Last week in a support group for sudden & traumatic death, 3 generations separated by land came together on the screen to grieve a common loss, gone unexpectedly in the span of two weeks from Covid. I hold a piece of their grief as they hold mine and I add their name to this digital altar.
If you’d like to name someone (or something) you’ve lost, NTLM has created a memorials toolkit, printable template, image bank, submission form, and some resources for finding names.
These images are a small fraction of the front fence installation and don’t showcase the performances. If you’d like to view the entire activation you can watch the recordings from City Lore. I especially loved the Mexican butterfly dance celebrating the dead that are still with us at the end:
This is the first I’ve heard of this event - which underlines “Covid isn’t over” and “Silence = Death.” Thank you for this important and touching post.