As I document the pandemic in my area, I’m heartened when I come across people who are making the best of things and are carrying on with their lives—just with varying degrees of protective gear and operating with new rules of social engagement. When I ask how they’re bearing up, most people respond that this…

Writing in chalk on the sidewalk is common in my neighborhood these days. The statements are mainly about “masking up.” This one is perhaps the most succinct I’ve seen. Mind-boggling how a utilitarian public/personal health recommendation became a politicized lightning rod and a symbol of personal autonomy and power. But it’s not the first time.…

The farmer’s market in Davis Square, Somerville (@massfmkts) is a much beloved tradition in the area. Every Wednesday from spring through the fall, you can find great produce, some prepared foods, and other delights in a municipal parking lot filled with vendor stalls. The market is once again open, but things are quite different. You…

We’re all getting used to paying for just about everything with plastic these days and transacting with people behind plexiglass “sneeze guards.” (I’ve used a total of $7 in cash since early March 2020). Plastic isn’t just in our wallets–it’s become the common stuff of PPE large and small. Here are some images from my…

I used to take a lot of photos of people passing by the “$39.99 Walk-In” sign in the window of the message therapy practice near my house. The bold stark letters and contrasting negative space made for an excellent backdrop as people strolled or jogged by. Each person’s stride and posture made their moment in…

A couple of months ago, the idea of going to the dentist was inconceivable. A talk with Dr. Chang, a prosthodontist and faculty member at Harvard University’s School of Dental Medicine, convinced me that a visit for a checkup and cleaning was safe. Beyond stringent check-in steps for patients and meticulous room sanitization before and…

As we inch towards some vague semblance of normality, a number of art galleries in the Boston area are cautiously opening by appointment and with the standard safety measures in place. Here, a viewer at Cambridge Art Association’s Kathryn Schultz Gallery studies a piece in the Association’s National Prize Show, juried by Sharon Butler. Visit…

No, she’s not a mannequin. I saw her strolling down Mass Ave a few blocks from my house in North Cambridge. I was intrigued by the mystery and anonymity afforded by the broad-brimmed hat and expansive mask. It was almost is if she was a modern day knight in armor protecting herself from the invisible…

During a recent Mass Ave walk, I noticed that the highly-rated @chalawanboston was opened for outside dining. It’s good to see proprietors doing whatever they can to make people feel comfortable in these oh-so uncomfortable times. Copyright © 2020 Steven Bennett     Steve BennettSteve Bennett is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based visual artist. He began taking photographs…