Injection Site: Making the Vaccine Visible
By Linda Alterwitz
When the first COVID-19 vaccines were first distributed in January 2021, I used a high-resolution thermal camera to document and track the body’s reaction to the COVID-19 vaccine. I have, to date, photographed the arms of 140 participants from Nevada at the site of each person’s injection. The photographs were taken at different stages based on the amount of time since injection, ranging from 15 minutes to four weeks after receiving the vaccine. The resulting photographs reveal each participant’s unique immunological response to the injection, tracking the degree of physical reaction to the virus in a way that corresponds to their individual physiology. These photographs now comprise a new exhibition, Injection Site: Making the Vaccine Visible, that is currently on view through June 25, 2023, at the Front Door Gallery in the Church Fine Arts building at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Candace 2 days.
This series began out of pure fascination of seeing the unique patterns of heat created by each person’s immunological response to the vaccine. Yet, this visual intrigue transformed as the world socially responded with divisions in attitudes toward the vaccine.
This series of photographs is not about getting or not getting the vaccine. Rather, I use art as a tool to create conversation, engagement, and inquiry. If the outcome of this work encourages listening and productive communication, perhaps people within our own communities would possess a little more empathy, which could help to strengthen our connections with one another.
Sheyenne 3 days.
This work is about personal choice—the more people learn about the vaccine, the more informed they are to make the right choice for themselves. In addition to communication and education, finding reliable sources for getting information about the vaccine is very important.
At the beginning of the pandemic, people seemed fearful of the images. Now, I believe people are more reflective of the time of the pandemic, and I hope this work will be remembered as a unique documentation of an unusual time in our history.
Linda Alterwitz is a Las Vegas-based visual artist utilizing photography, collage, and interactive methods. Linda’s practice focuses on envisioning the unseen rhythms of the human body and our relationship to the natural world. Her current exhibition, Injection Site: Making the Vaccine Visible, is now on view at the Front Door Gallery on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno. To learn more about Linda’s work, visit her website at lindaalterwitz.com.
Photos courtesy of Linda Alterwitz.