In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic, Los Angeles, CA
2020
Alon Goldsmith
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.200
In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic:
“Since lockdown, I have been photographing Angelenos who are sheltering in place. (Physical distancing is maintained throughout.) I have also been writing stories to accompany the photographs about each household, documenting their experiences, feelings, and thoughts about life during the pandemic. The subjects of In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic are a random sampling of people I’ve encountered in my 35-year history in Los Angeles, as well as people I’ve met through serendipitous encounters as a result of the project. I’ve photographed rabbis, rock stars, a deaf activist from Compton, a best-selling author, a Top Chef Masters TV personality, the president of KCRW, the chair of Amnesty International, a homeless woman who lives on Ballona Creek, and dozens of other wonderfully interesting and diverse Angelenos.”
During March of 2020, as states like California, began implementing shelter-in-place-orders (SIPO) to curb transmission of the Coronavirus across the American West, many citizens found themselves relegated to the confines of their homes and the streets and major tourist areas closed.
Over the next several months, as citizens considered the length of the SIPO on themselves and others, many become creative to highlight their anxiety, but also their resilience.
Communities of all sorts became creative by using both digital and physical spaces to replicate some semblance of normalcy during the pandemic. Particularly, refashioning Birthday parties and other social gatherings and hosting them over Zoom to using hobbies to document bare city streets and loved ones from a safe social-distance.
Social Distancing, Culver City, CA
2020
Kristina Sison
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.42
Makes Waves photo project:
“I have actually enjoyed sitting on my stoop to get some fresh air and break up the monotony of only seeing the inside of my apartment, even though the view is of deserted lot and two porta potties. I’ve sat in my lawn chair so many times. Some friends have even stopped by to say hello and sat 12 feet away, just for us to get our social interaction fix in.”
Social Distancing, Venice, CA
2020
Saam Gabbay
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.144
“My birthday was in the middle of the ongoing coronavirus quarantine. I canceled a get-together at my place. Instead, I went to see my friends and family at theirs—not that I could go near them. I photographed them from outside, looking in. I scheduled a time at each location and asked that they stand at their window while I stood in their yard, on their sidewalk, or across the street. If they lived in a high-rise, I flew my drone to their window.”
In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic, Los Angeles, CA
2020
Alon Goldsmith
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.200
In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic:
“Since lockdown, I have been photographing Angelenos who are sheltering in place. (Physical distancing is maintained throughout.) I have also been writing stories to accompany the photographs about each household, documenting their experiences, feelings, and thoughts about life during the pandemic. The subjects of In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic are a random sampling of people I’ve encountered in my 35-year history in Los Angeles, as well as people I’ve met through serendipitous encounters as a result of the project. I’ve photographed rabbis, rock stars, a deaf activist from Compton, a best-selling author, a Top Chef Masters TV personality, the president of KCRW, the chair of Amnesty International, a homeless woman who lives on Ballona Creek, and dozens of other wonderfully interesting and diverse Angelenos.”
In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic, Los Angeles, CA
2020
Alon Goldsmith
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.200
In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic:
“Since lockdown, I have been photographing Angelenos who are sheltering in place. (Physical distancing is maintained throughout.) I have also been writing stories to accompany the photographs about each household, documenting their experiences, feelings, and thoughts about life during the pandemic. The subjects of In Place | Portraits of a Pandemic are a random sampling of people I’ve encountered in my 35-year history in Los Angeles, as well as people I’ve met through serendipitous encounters as a result of the project. I’ve photographed rabbis, rock stars, a deaf activist from Compton, a best-selling author, a Top Chef Masters TV personality, the president of KCRW, the chair of Amnesty International, a homeless woman who lives on Ballona Creek, and dozens of other wonderfully interesting and diverse Angelenos.”
Social Distancing Portrait, Los Angeles, CA
2020
Pascal Shirley
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.2.35
Photo of three children looking through the window
Deserted Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
2020
David Westphal
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.208
Photos of a deserted Los Angeles
Deserted Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
2020
David Westphal
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.208
Photos of a deserted Los Angeles
Deserted Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
2020
David Westphal
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.208
Photos of a deserted Los Angeles
Deserted Downtown, Los Angeles, CA
2020
David Westphal
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.208
Photos of a deserted Los Angeles
Deserted Mall, Honolulu, HI
2020
J. Matt
Collecting Community History Initiative Digital Archives, Autry Museum; MSA.64.1.208
Photos of a deserted Los Angeles
The Autry Museum of American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
Located northeast of downtown, across from the Los Angeles Zoo.
Map and Directions
Free parking for Autry visitors.
MUSEUM AND STORE HOURS
Tuesday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
CAFE HOURS
Tuesday–Friday 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.