Louisville artist brings turning point of the COVID-19 pandemic to life through her artwork
A Louisville artist is bringing the turning point of the COVID-19 pandemic to life through her artwork.
"Art was my sanity during this time," Marty Osbourn O'Daniel told 비바카지노 Viva. "That's how I got through the days. That's how I could forget about work: when I had a chance to paint."
O'Daniel is the chief operating officer of Kentucky Pediatric/Adult Research, a medical research site in Bardstown. In 2020, it was the only site in Kentucky selected to conduct the clinical trials for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine that led to its Food and Drug Administration approval.
During the clinical trials, a camera captured a research nurse administering the Pfizer vaccine to a participant. O'Daniel said she was so moved by the photo she decided to recreate it with acrylic and oil paint on a canvas.
"Because of our research nurse giving a patient who volunteered for the trial to get an investigational vaccine, the pandemic was brought to an end," she explained. "There were times when we never thought that would happen."
While gathering around the painting at O'Daniel's home in January 2023, the nurse and trial participant reflected on their efforts to save lives.
"I wanted to be part of history. Because this is a one in 100-year pandemic," said participant Dr. Christy Lane of Growing Kids Pediatrics.
"We've done lots of clinical trials and studies," said Lisa Dones, a nurse with Kentucky Pediatric/Adult Research. "But we've not ever been through a pandemic before."
If you look closely, you'll notice O'Daniel's art incorporates artifacts, including vial caps from the actual vaccine used during the clinical trial, labels from a syringe, and parts of a letter from Pfizer.
Altogether, the painting illustrates the clinical trials that ultimately changed the course of the pandemic.
"To know that we were a part of it right here in Kentucky... That's really cool," O'Daniel said.