“Learn to do common things uncommonly well; we must always keep in mind that anything that helps full the dinner pail is valuable.” -George Washington Carver

The world is changing. Of this, there is little debate. We must, each one, decide how we will move into a future that is different than the past and what changes we can make in order to sustain not just our own existence but that of the world as a whole. A return to old ways in many realms could be the key to the future of our planet. Producing what we can at home, easing the burden on a strained supply chain, treading gently on the only place we have to call our home – these are the actions of a civilization accepting responsibility for generations to come, a civilization holding itself accountable for the path on which we collectively tread.

Mark Jason Weston spoke to us this February 10 from Philadelphia. The pandemic, he says, has turned things on their head in the city where his understanding is that the vaccine rollout has been heavily flawed. For almost a year, like many of us, Weston has been working from home. He finds that time slows down to the point that at times it seems to flow backward. Although he says this is an interesting time to be alive, he does qualify that statement by saying that may not be such a good thing in all respects. At present, Weston is working on smaller pieces, which he says reflect his feelings of confinement and isolation. In addition, he began making collages in an old ledger book. To hear more about his work and experience during this time of pandemic, listen to the complete interview.

Sandra Mann spoke to us from Frankfurt, Germany where COVID infection rates had begun to drop. The pandemic has limited the number of exhibitions Mann, a photographer, has been able to accomplish and has pushed her role as a photographic history and design teacher at European School of Design to online classes. This year, Mann was awarded the Plaque of Frankfurt for her work in photography. The other recipient this year was famed composer Hans Zimmer. To hear more about her work and life, listen to the complete interview.