“I’ve always worked in factories,” said Maya. “I’ve done this since I was 20 years old, and I’ve never really done anything else. I’ve just always done this. It’s very much a part of my lifestyle.”
Maya McCarthy, 34, is a Brooklyn-based professional artist and self-described, “punk-rocker.” A native to Brooklyn and a child of artistic parents, Maya has always lived and worked in art communities. Gowanus Print Lab, a commercial screenprinting studio, has become a second home to Maya. She works as a Master Printer, specializing in custom and bulk orders.
“We’re a cultural enrichment shop,” Maya told me. “We serve clients who need contract-printing services like company t-shirts or paper products printed; but we also serve children, families, and other artists. We offer a variety of classes and supplies for artists. Workspaces like GPL are really fundamental to culture.”
Maya’s daily routine was disrupted in early March, soon after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed the state’s first case of the novel coronavirus. While New York officials determined that the spread of the virus was inevitable, Governor Cuomo, in a statement, assured the public that the patient “knew to take precautions and stay in a controlled situation.”
“I didn’t really think much of it at first,” said Maya. “I was still wandering down 5th Avenue and going to punk rock shows after my shifts at the print shop. Around the second week of March, our clients began pulling large orders. That’s when I realized how serious this would become.”
On March 20th, Governor Cuomo issued an On Pause executive order, mandating restrictions to social gatherings and the closing of all non-essential businesses across New York State. The 10-point policy measure was created to assure uniform safety for all New Yorkers and to keep healthcare services available for patients who tested positive for the virus.
“It all happened very quickly,” Maya said. “I put away my inks and organized all of my (silk) screens. I locked the door and that was it. I left without knowing when I would be able to return.”
Like millions of Americans, confronted with furloughed salaries, indefinite unemployment, and stay-at-home mandates, Maya is also facing the loss of income and instability. The halt in her career and interruption to lifestyle is met with an overwhelming sense of confusion and profound unease.
“My identity is so tied into my job that it is tattooed on my neck,” said Maya. She pauses for a few moments before adding, “This has really affected me emotionally. I want to serve a purpose and be useful.”
Serigrafía, the Spanish translation of serigraphy or silkscreen can be read across Maya’s neck. The delicate cursive letters, blending permanently into her skin, convey an obvious and poignant personal narrative. A silkscreen and the physical act of screenprinting are fundamental to her identity as an artist, while the tattoo serves as an anchor for her individuality.
State Governments have cautiously shut down many sectors of the economy, leaving over 16 million Americans unemployed and contributing to the worst financial crisis in US history. Many New Yorkers have gone weeks without a paycheck, while a surge in unemployment claims overwhelms the Department of Labor. New York State’s online application system is waiving the 7-day waiting period for Unemployment Insurance benefits for those out of work due to novel coronavirus closures, self-quarantines, and stay-at-home orders. A bipartisan $2 trillion economic relief package, recently passed by Congress, offers assistance to tens of millions of individuals and households affected by the pandemic. The historic extension of unemployment benefits includes expanded unemployment insurance, a one-time stimulus check, and low-interest loans and grants for businesses.
“The subsidies will help me pay rent and buy food but they aren’t enough to keep everyone moving,” said Maya. “They’re not enough for people who have kids; a lot of people are still waiting on the deposits. This hurts us all.”
As of Monday evening, April 13, health officials have laboratory-tested and confirmed 104, 410 cases of COVID-19 in the five boroughs, and 195,031 cases in New York State. New York City remains the epicenter of the global pandemic, with a state death toll of more than 10,056. In a news briefing, Governor Cuomo announced that he is extending the executive order, “New York State on Pause” through April 29. While the economic shutdown is slowing the spread of the virus, it offers little hope for essential workers who are at the greatest risk of exposure.
“Essential workers are the most affected,” Maya told me. “They don’t all have the resources to protect themselves or their families, and they’re not being compensated enough. They should be paid more. It’s appalling that people have to compromise their health just to keep their jobs and pay their bills. People are negotiating on so many levels. There’s no fucking easy way to do this.”
I asked Maya if anything has kept her hopeful during this dark and ominous time.
“Yes,” said Maya. “People are connecting and uniting on a true grassroots level. They’re donating food and resources; they’re making masks for essential workers; they’re grocery shopping for the elderly. People are doing what they can to help small businesses stay afloat. There are “mutual aid” groups on Facebook for almost every Brooklyn neighborhood. It’s really inspiring to see people connect with strangers. It makes me smile through the madness.”
During this time of uncertainty, we at the Park Slope Reader are committed to continually serving our community. Please follow us each week as we catalog changes in our neighborhoods, while providing the latest medical developments and valuable resources. Park Slope and adjoining areas are unique to the New York City landscape, and we will continue highlighting our neighbors through weekly editorials. This is a challenging and historic time; please know we are committed to getting through this together.
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Julia DePinto
Julia Innocenza DePinto is a visual artist and writer. She has exhibited her art internationally and has attended artist residencies in the US and Europe. Julia lives between Brooklyn and Los Angeles.