As a social practice artist, Jessica Cerullo uses her interactions with people as her medium. Most often these interactions inspire a theatrical work; sometimes, however, the work may be interdisciplinary including visual art, spoken word and more.

In the past, her work has explored regional history, social issues and more. Currently, she is embarking on a project interviewing people about their pandemic experiences to find commonalities through specific individual experiences.

“A potter creates work out of clay,” Cerullo explained. “Social practice art is an approach to making art with people.”

While the work is very community-centered, Cerullo admits that it is as much for the self as for the community. According to Cerullo, social practice art is more about the process than the end product.

Cerullo’s current project, “Ships in the Night,” will explore the pandemic and isolation to address the need to process the ongoing pandemic experience in order to heal. Cerullo cites the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for inspiring the title, borrowing from the famous line in Wadsworth’s poem “The Theologian’s Tale”:

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing,

Only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness;

So on the ocean of life, we pass and speak one another,

Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.

Cerullo’s energy heightened as she described the theme and how it works on multiple levels. From resonating not only with the area’s nautical history and the pandemic experience, but also to the practice of social distancing.

“Inspiration evolved from living here and finding solace in nature. During the pandemic, seaside walks, viewing the sunrise or sunset have been centering for me and I could see that was the case for others, too.” Cerullo said.

During each interview, Cerullo poses a few questions, and listens intently to the responses as she clicks on her laptop, taking notes. After a few silent moments, she pens a performative poem, which she then shares with the interviewee. The process also facilitates building trust between strangers. Cerullo sees her role as being the vessel to contain the story.

“It’s about participation, collaboration and community. By sitting together in a public space, we learn at a cellular level that we are not alone,” Cerullo said. “With the pandemic and isolation we’ve all experienced, there is a need to process our experiences and to heal.”

She is particularly interested in talking to people she doesn’t know and to those who are caregivers, in its many forms, from teachers to healthcare workers to family members.

Cerullo’s passion for her work is evident, despite not knowing what the final outcome of the project will be.

“As an artist, I can’t control the reaction of my audience, but I can respond to them,” Cerullo continued. “My creative practice lies in that interplay. I simply have to trust the project will take us where we need to go together.”

Cerullo’s project includes plans to publish a chapbook which will be given to all the co-author participants; and to stage a poetry reading on ships in Long Island Sound in the spring.

In the months ahead, Cerullo will double-down on the interviews and focus intently on artistically exploring what the strangers she interviews will bring to her. Whatever the final product is, the journey will be well worth it.

“When you are co-creating with people,” Cerullo said, “healing is always a part of it.”

Those who feel the joys, responsibility, and burden of caregiving during the pandemic and would like to meet with Jessica Cerullo, or invite her to meet with your colleagues, clients, or students to co-create a poem for the project, contact her at TheShipsInTheNightCT@gmail.com.

Emma Palzere-Rae is Associate Director for Artreach, Inc. and founder of Be Well Productions. If you have a story about how creativity has helped you heal, please contact emma.artreachheals@gmail.com.