West Hollywood released the short holiday video, “After the Music.” (image courtesy of the city of West Hollywood)

Traditionally, the city of West Hollywood celebrates the holiday season each year with a special holiday card featuring the contributions of a local artist.

For 2020, mindful of adapting and responding to COVID-19 health and safety precautions for stay-at-home orders and social distancing, the city has produced an imaginative and touching two-and-a-half-minute video called “After the Music” that community members can access digitally.

“This year has been exceptionally challenging. The coronavirus pandemic continues to impact all of us and many people in our community are struggling with isolation during the holiday season,” West Hollywood Mayor Lindsey Horvath said. “Art and poetry have the power to inspire us and bring us together, even in virtual spaces. This year’s city Poet Laureate holiday season poem and animated video creatively remind us to ‘praise the Zoom call’ and celebrate the things that connect us. Let’s heed its message to support one another, boom laughter, gather in virtual spaces and stay connected.”

The “After the Music” video animates a poem written especially for the holiday season by West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace. It combines Sonia-Wallace’s poem, read aloud by the poet, with holiday card artwork designed by West Hollywood artist Steven Rahbany and animated imagery from Zoo Crew Productions.

Sonia-Wallace created the poem to address the feelings of hope, connecting and coping with isolation and change during this holiday season, which looks and feels so different due to the coronavirus pandemic. The poem explores the ways in which people have adapted to the need for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of the community and loved ones. It also explores the ways in which people find joy in appreciating what they have and connection over video calls and socially distant interactions.

The video was produced by the city of West Hollywood’s Arts Division in collaboration with Zoo Crew Productions and is available for viewing on the city of West Hollywood’s WeHoArts YouTube Channel at youtu.be/IVwN5HflB3c.