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Robby Poore Collection

Robby Poore, artist and Design Manager at the UNC School of Government, created and  posted limited edition screen printed posters to connect with community members who might be experiencing hardship or emotional turmoil during the pandemic. Poore posted these and other COVID-related posters on bare kiosks in Chapel Hill and Carrboro, which in pre-pandemic times were covered with concert posters.

Are You Okay?

Are You Okay? Poster #1, May 2020

This was the first of Poore's coronavirus-based posters. Ghost-like shapes surround the letters, reflecting how the disease was spreading. The fluorescent inks in this are 35 year-old DekaPrint t-shirt inks. 

Gift of Robby Poore
North Carolina Collection Gallery

Shelter from the Storm poster

Shelter From The Storm, July 2020

As the pandemic drew on, Poore was feeling increasingly sad about the news, frustrated by the lack of clarity and direction by our federal government, and concerned about how his kids in online school without their friends. This poster's design was inspired by Poore's daughter who dealt with the isolation and bad news by going for walks in the rain with an umbrella. The dots represent corona viruses and are printed in phosphorescent ink. Poore states that "this image is our small attempt to keep sane against massive and unknown (and constantly changing) problems."

Gift of Robby Poore
North Carolina Collection Gallery 

Cough

Cough, February 2021

Poore took a photo of his daughter coughing, halftoned it, and printed fluorescent dots all over that represent virus spewing out when people cough. This design addresses  pushback against mask wearing and was printed at the height of the outbreak when the nation had surpassed 500,000 deaths from the disease. Poore placed twenty-five of these posters on telephone poles and kiosks in Chapel Hill and Carrboro to remind people that mask wearing is an effective way of preventing the spread of the disease.

Gift of Robby Poore
North Carolina Collection Gallery

COVID Coloring Book COVID Coloring Book

We Will Get Through This Pandemic Coloring Book, December 2020

Each page of this 8.5" x 11" hand screen printed coloring book illustrates aspects of Poore's experiences during the pandemic, including working from home, watching his kids attend school online, and witnessing race-related protests around the country. 

Gift of Robby Poore
North Carolina Collection Gallery