Dot Smelser, 1859-1918

*We begin our story with Dot because her story echoes the stories of our the front line workers fighting the current pandemic. A little over 100 years ago the world was at war with another pandemic, “The Spanish Flu.” It is sadly ironic that today we are fighting a similar crisis so close to the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Dot’s husband contracted the Spanish Flu while serving Jury Duty in San Diego. After caring for him while he was sick, Dot contracted the illness and subsequently died. She is buried alongside her family in a cemetery in Fallbrook.

Click image image below to watch the video of Dot’s Last Exhale by Emily Miller.

*It is important to note that Emily Miller chose this song by John Prine sang by her mother specifically because he was recently struck down by the pandemic we are currently facing.

“Dot’s Ascent”

Art by LITVAKdance collaborator and artist, Wren Polansky. This piece is inspired by the John Prine song Miller chose to pair her dance with, “Angel of Montgomery.” In the image, Dot, who succumbed to influenza in 1918, is covered by ‘the sickness’ which changes in hue as she gets closer to heaven.

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A little Press….

Read what the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Pam Kragen had to say about this project here