We asked you to send us a picture of something that represents the Covid-19 lockdown to you. These are some of the images we received. As people who care for museum objects, we understand that ‘it’s not just the object, it’s the story’. As the TV show ‘The Repair Shop’ has shown us, small things can have enormous power to transport us back and make us think of people and places that are gone, but not forgotten. What are the simple things that are going to remind us of our time in Lockdown?
Amelia's lolly
During the hot weekend of the summer lockdown my mum and I ate these Morrisons own Fruit Pastilles ice lollies that came in a pack of four. This was to help us stay cool while being in the sun in our back garden. They didn't last long though as we both had two over the weekend.
Amelia's echo and suncream
This is our Echo which I have been listening to music while getting some sun in the back garden. With Ultrasun sun cream to protect my skin from burning and ageing in the hot summer sun during lockdown. I haven't had a British tan in years.
Rabia's cookies for Eid
Attached to this lovely du'a (prayer) were some delicious cookies personally delivered on Eid day from a dear family. This du'a resembles my personal journey and many Muslims across the globe where we have been striving to grow closer to Allah, whilst we have this time on our hands, especially as Ramadan was blessed on us during the peak of lockdown. Eid day is spent with your loved ones, and to receive this reinforced the absence in being able to spend time with the wider community.
Alexandra Park School drums
Alexandra Park Primary School
Marching to the beat of our home made drums! This is what lockdown looks like for our children, arts and crafts all round. The macaroni and glitter never got so much use!
Hilary's hair salon
This is a photograph to sum up one of lockdowns hidden talents I didn’t know I had....
Barbers are not open, so having to give my husband lockdown hair cuts (in the garden so not creating a mess indoors, thank goodness for these sunny days). I have never cut hair before and was very nervous at first but I’ve surprised myself because I’m quite good at it.
Lucy's Kit Bag
For healthcare staff our world is very different to the one we knew pre-Covid-19. One tiny example of this change: we now take our uniforms off, store them in a washable bag and when we get home place this straight into the washing machine to reduce the risk of us bringing this virus into our homes. None of us owned the type of bags needed for this as we had never been required to do this but the wider community, without being asked, swooped in to help, designing, making and supplying kit bags!
Rabia's remote reading group
During the Easter break, I was going to visit one of my close friends in Bristol, however when lockdown restrictions were imposed and many people furloughed, my friend and I discussed how we could use our time to read more and connect through our love for reading. Using her time to start writing her very first novel, inspired by Haruki Muraki's book 1Q84, I look forward to catching up with her in person and hopefully read a sneak peak of her first book!
Angela's Oldham Map Quilt
Angela is an artist and part-time Gallery Oldham visitor experience assistant. She has made this quilt during lockdown.
Auriel's keyworker teddy
She was always called Teddy, and she was always a girl, because of course, when I was little, she was married to my brother’s teddy. She’s had a fairly domestic career, always a willing participant in the usual make-believe games. She still has the crewcut I gave her when playing as a hairdresser, and the small blob of Mum’s lipstick on her forehead to simulate blood when I was a nurse. The marriage ceremony with my brother’s teddy was of course performed by me as Vicar.
Deadline for ‘Object’ submissions was 9am Monday 8th June. We are really happy to have submissions on this theme for us to keep in our collection after this, but we may not be able to add them to our digital exhibition.
