Always Essential

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2020

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As the pandemic forces most to stay inside, essential workers allow certain services to continue and make quarantine more comfortable. As a result, there has been increased appreciation and respect for these workers, expressed across news outlets, social media, and in conversation. One Instagram post prompted people to be thankful for essential workers because we are now relying on them. But haven’t we always relied on them? Will this praise and appreciation for essential workers last post-quarantine? Based on stories told to me by employees in facilities and at-home caretakers, I’ve created still lifes to express the lack of recognition and mistreatment they’ve experienced.