Stitching the Situation is a communal art project in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.

Stitching the Situation is an extension of artist Heather Schulte’s textile work, Situation Report, a daily cross-stitch documentation of the coronavirus case and death counts in the U.S. from Jan 20-June 25. The Situation Report panels began as the artist’s way to record cases in the US, and translate them visually with stitch. As cases grew, she could not stitch each individual case or death herself, and began hosting in-person stitching sessions with her neighbors. These panels are now traveling to other areas, as it is safe to do so, inviting more people to contribute their hands and time, marking the impact of the virus on our lives, and sharing their own stories of these times with each other. In a time when gathering in person is difficult, the size and scope of the work offers a socially distanced opportunity to come together creatively, while still respecting public health and safety measures.

On June 26, as cases surged toward a second peak, Schulte started creating stitching kits and invited people across the country to contribute their handwork to the project. Each kit represents one day of reported coronavirus cases and deaths in the U.S. In response to concerns about the continuing spread of the virus, this phase of the project expands accessibility from a local to a national (and international) level, including many who are unable to travel, or even leave their homes. Grants from the City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture and the Fiber Art Network, in addition to many generous individual donors have supported most material and postage costs.

This is an ongoing, evolving project, recording diverse individual and community experiences in real time during the pandemic, and creating space to reconnect and heal as we recover from the crisis. As we come together, we can support each other both during and after this crisis, and create new pathways forward, while establishing an archive of this time.