Choreographies of Survival: Atlanta's Masking Community

Item set

Title: Choreographies of Survival: Atlanta's Masking Community
Description: A collection demonstrating the ways Atlanta's masking community continues to assert their existence and survival and the societal experience of publicly resisting a return to "normalcy."
Subject: COVID-19, community care, ableism
Creator: Olivia Chapman
Date: 2020 - present
Rights: All rights are reserved with the original creators of the materials.
Type: Collection

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Comments on masking
A collection of interactions had in passing from a member of the Atlanta masking community. The practice of masking is a visible act of resistance and can invite individuals to make comments both positive and negative in reaction. It is typical for members of the Atlanta masking community to casually share these experiences, but this community member decided to document these interactions.
Community Unity Network 4 Transformation & Justice (CUN4TS)
A collective based in Atlanta, GA started in 2024 rooted in the values of anarchism, disability justice, community care, and harm reduction. They share educational materials centering marginalized voices through skill share, community collaborations, fundraisers, and queer covid-cautious events.
Harm Reduction Saves Lives zine
A zine created by CUN4TS about the practice of harm reduction and in the intersectionality of COVID-19 precautions and community care with other public heath discussions regarding sexual activity, drug use, and abortion.
Mask Bloc Atlanta
Mask Bloc Atlanta is a grassroots mutual aid initiative started in January 2024 aiming to provide the Atlanta area with resources to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic and organize the covid-cautious community in accessible spaces. They host a variety of events including Mask4Mask, a monthly meet-up, and MASKerade, an occasional mask-required rave. Mask Bloc Atlanta also regularly partners with other Atlanta-based organizations for fundraising and educational events.
Reinstate COVID Precautions open letter
An open letter by Mask Bloc Atlanta demanding COVID-19 precautions be reinstated by Atlanta healthcare facilities and providers. This letter was in response to the Georgia Department of Public Health discontinuing its COVID-19 isolation guidelines in March 2024.
Mask4Mask
A monthly mask-required meet up in the Atlanta area hosted by Mask Bloc Atlanta. The meet ups provide an opportunity for COVID-cautious individuals to be in community and typically involve the free distribution of various resources including masks, clothing, drug test strips, and food.
MASKerade 2.0 flyers
Flyers featuring the details for MASKerade, a bi-monthly mask-required rave held at Eyedrum Gallery in Atlanta, GA. The flyers often featured collaged artwork of individuals in artificially placed face coverings due to the lack of individuals in social spaces actively masking.
Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act sign
A sign detailing the “Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act” passed in 2020 which removed liability from businesses, healthcare facilities, etc., if an individual contracted COVID-19 while on the premises.
The Case Against Coddling Anti-Maskers
A zine about discussions with anti-masking individuals and the ableism inherent in anti-masking beliefs from the ATL Free Fair. This specific edition of the zine features a sticker from Community Unity Network 4 Transformation and Solidarity (CUN4TS), an Atlanta-based collective.