In Los Angeles, where I’m currently based, non-essential services have once again been shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I don’t think this will be our first, next shut down.
As cases of and deaths from Coronavirus continue to rise, especially in the United States, it’s clear that us artists will have to make space at home for routines that keep us creative, productive, and sane.
The future of the arts, like most other industries, is uncertain.
But, us artists thrive on a prompt. And, given the prompt “create at-home,” artists across mediums are adapting and continuing to push their medium forward into the 21st century with innovative, online collaborations and presentations.
For me, this has meant virtual feedback sessions on my novel rewrite, teaching dance classes virtually, and producing and hosting my monthly, virtual burlesque show Burlesque & Chill. (Our next Burlesque & Chill is this Saturday, July 28th if you’d like to tune in.)
I’ve of course had conversations with my close artist friends over the months on what they’re doing to keep busy and balanced, but this May (2020) I wanted to know how other artists were engaging with art and process over the previous three months.
So, I asked you.
Here’s what ten artists of various mediums and backgrounds said about how they’ve continued to create under stay-at-home orders and what they predict the future of their industries will look post-pandemic.
Responses may be slightly edited.
Visual Artists At-Home
Rachel Lopez-Bagan is a graphic designer with her own firm and online shop based out of Los Angeles. Rachel’s used to working online, but she’s been finding ways to help her clients through their drop in business and add new techniques for creating products and monetizing her craft.
“I am working on branding jobs for clients (at a pay cut to them) and have also been looking to projects that keep my creative juices flowing and bring in some revenue.
“The main project I’ve started is designing a line of nail decals under my design brand! I have a machine where I can design and manufacture the decals at home at low cost to me. It’s been really fun to design decal packs and has been a way to bring in some extra revenue to stay ahead of my bills.”
Rachel Lopez-Bagan, Graphic Designer
Most of Rachel’s industry is already primarily online based. However, she does see client needs changing long after the pandemic.
“I see the need for printed goods (business cards, books, etc.) fading away, I also see the reliance on large events disappearing and transitioning into virtual marketing and virtual events.”
Rachel Lopez-Bagan, Graphic Designer
Kayla D. is an illustrator and songwriter. Kayla’s been optimizing her routine so she can accomplish her artistic goals despite the change in lifestyle.
“Making a to-do list helps a lot. I create a plan each day of what I’d like to work on/accomplish and making sure I get around to some, if not all of it. I’ve been using my spare time to tackle projects I haven’t gotten around to, like recording music and practicing different illustrative styles.”
Kayla D., Illustrator and Songwriter
Kayla notices the positives coming out of this pandemic. She sees people deepening their appreciation for artists and believes this will be beneficial to artists going forward.
“I’m pretty optimistic. I believe people have become more aware of how certain industries work and why it’s helpful to support them, especially smaller entrepreneurs. Hopefully, people will realize how much art (of any form) is included in everyday life and they’ll grow more interest and appreciation for it.”
Kayla D., Illustrator and Songwriter
Lisa Sheets is a visual artist who creates mixed-media collages on paper and wood panel based out of Seattle, WA. She’s been expanding on her materials and methods. She’s also begun creating masks with her designs.
“I still have an active art practice while working minimal hours as an essential worker (my hours at my day job have been greatly reduced). I have gotten the sewing machine out and am using that as well as my printing press. I have started making OOAK handmade masks with my art designs on them. It’s a cool new challenge.”
- Lisa Sheets, Visual Artist
While Lisa doesn’t think the creation of visual artists in her industry will change much, she believes their means of selling and presenting their works will. She’s already experimenting with new ways of getting her own work out into the digital world.
“Visual artists will have to find more ways to connect with collectors in ways that don’t involve the normal social events like gala auctions, art openings, and other events that draw a crowd. People are already trying things like virtual openings and Zoom artist lectures. I have been trying to think outside the box, by signing up with a “print on demand” website so my art can reach more people.”
Lisa Sheets, Visual Artist
Lisa was recently interviewed by Janet Lee Carey about pandemic art. Catch the replay here.
Performers At-Home
Andrew Pearson is a performer and writer based out of Los Angeles. I interviewed Andrew not long ago about creating autobiographical artwork. Andrew’s been dabbling in a little bit of everything throughout the pandemic, keeping up on his writing, dancing, and choreography projects.
“As a writer, I’m working on script revisions, blog posts, zoom script read sessions. As a performer, I’ve been taking online dance classes or keeping up with my own physical practice. Plus, the occasional choreography or improvisational projects in the living room.”
Andrew Pearson, Performer and Writer
Andrew struggles with the implications this pandemic has for the future of live theatre. However, he’s optimistic about the kind of structural change this sort of crises can bring about.
I agree, that this highlighting of our systemic issues in government and artistic industries alike is one of the more exciting aspects of the unprecedented time we’re living in.
“I think it will be a disappointingly long time before we can perform in theaters in the way we used to. I anticipate seeing a lot of creative solutions to how/where people perform as well as new uses of technology, but I also predict a lot of this will feel like space holders and less fulfilling.
“The way we train and prepare the next generation of dancers and performers will also be impacted which will inevitably change the ways in which this generation creates choreography and movement-based experiences.
“I think I’m still in a place of mourning for my preferred method of artistic exchange – live performance – so it’s hard for me to be optimistic about the future of dance and theater, but I try to remind myself that theater has survived a lot – including the Black Plague. With the bit of optimism I can muster, I do hope this provides an opportunity to question the structures, platforms, and hierarchies in which dance has traditionally existed and hopefully see a diversification in how we train young dancers as well as more equitable programming and sharing of resources in the future.”
Andrew Pearson, Performer and Writer
Madeleine Heil is a singer, sewer, and burlesque performer based in Los Angeles. Madeleine has been keeping busy at home making costumes, learning translate performance to on-camera, and continuing her music education. (She’s also in my show this Saturday 😉)
“I’ve been recording music, learning new songs, planning and making new costumes, and learning how to effectively perform burlesque on camera. I’ve also been doing self-portrait sessions so I can keep posting high-quality content without getting too bogged down in the sad nature of our circumstances. I can’t do sessions with photographers anymore, but I *can* still create art on my own!”
- Madeleine Heil, Singer, Sewer, and Burlesque Performer
Madeleine knows that the intimacy of audience interaction at live shows will change in the future. However, she sees opportunities to have a different kind of intimate audience relationship and for performers to expand their reach.
“I think burlesque will be a little less intimate and involve less audience participation physically, but we can create a better link with our audiences in terms of outreach. We will meet people from further away, plus audiences feel safer sharing their opinions when they can type something (vs shouting at a live performance).”
Madeleine Heil, Singer, Sewer, and Burlesque Performer
Harlequin Curio is a burlesque performer based in Los Angeles. She’s been focused on her daily practice and taking advantage of the sort of reach Madeleine discussed.
“I’m doing a little something every day. I sing, paint, listen to music and write down the ideas that come to me. I also watch virtual burlesque shows and see performers I would otherwise not get to see!”
Harlequin Curio, Burlesque Performer
Harlequin knows things aren’t going back to “normal” anytime soon.
“It’s going to be awhile before theaters and bars get back to full capacity for live burlesque, but we’ve been embracing technology in a way that I think will stay long after all this.”
Harlequin Curio, Burlesque Performer
Fannie Sinclair is a burlesque performer, choreographer, felt craft maker, and filmmaker based out of Los Angeles. Fannie has been finding ways to connect with her audiences and students online as well as supplement her income.
“I created a Patreon to encourage many of my creative mediums and keep structure. I’ve also been performing via livestream platforms and crafting. And, I’ve been teaching online so I can interact with my community directly.”
- Fannie Sinclair, Performer, Choreographer, and Filmmaker
Fannie predicts that things will eventually go back to in-person but it will be a slow process. She’s personally prioritizing the safety over a speedy return.
“Shows will remain on stages, audiences will be limited, many shows will remain online. I will have to teach online and move into the studio only when it’s safe, and still limit my student base. It’s going to be a process. I’m glad the Internet exists.”
Fannie Sinclair, Performer, Choreographer, and Filmmaker
Film At-Home
Mason Taylor is a filmmaker. He’s using this forced pause to double down on pre-production planning and going deep with his cast on his latest project so that when film time comes, the script and characterization are well fleshed-out.
“We are currently crowdfunding on Seed&Spark so a lot of our creativity is going into the campaign. We have weekly table reads and biweekly meetings where we do a deeper break down as a cast. There’s a real clear upside to all of that, we never would have had this amount of time to put into a short. Outside of that project, I’m real intentional about writing every day. Learning and taping one monologue per month for class is another way I get to stay creative.”
Mason Taylor, Filmmaker
Mason believes that this pandemic and stay-at-home orders will force intentionality from film makers. This keen attention will be placed into everything from the creative aspect to the management of casts and crews.
“I think that every piece and every person on a project (starting from pre-production) will have to have a very clear and specific purpose. The luxury of having “all hands” might be more so more people doing more than one thing.”
Mason Taylor, Filmmaker
Derek Johnson is a filmmaker and art photographer based in Seattle, WA. Derek has been optimizing his gear so that when he
“Well, the first thing I did was create an LUT for my camera so that I could judge the light and color quality accurately enough to record great images that would translate to quicker, better color grading in post.
Next, I did a gear audit and bought a table saw. I am making some boxes and support pieces for my dolly, so I have more height flexibility. I also put together a lighting hack for a better key light for interviews.
“Currently, I am producing a virtual art/film festival and decided to create an episodic series out of my short thriller I shot 2 years ago. I am writing 3 to 5 ten-minute episodes that I can shoot with distancing and safety.”
Derek Johnson, Filmmaker and Photographer
Derek is taking a realist and big-picture approach to the state of the film industry during and post-Covid. I also happen to know that he helps run a Facebook group all about production safety in the North West.
“It’s going to depend on a lot of things. Politics, do we get a second wave of the virus, economy. We just don’t know yet. We may see simpler projects for a while, but that’s not a bad thing. Massive productions, maybe a few will run, but I think there won’t be many large-scale productions until 2021. This year is a wash for film.”
Derek Johnson, Filmmaker and Photographer
Check out Derek’s latest, pre-Covid film here.
Literature At-Home
Chyanne Adams is a young, indie author whom I am personally inspired by after reading her responses and looking into her website. Chyanne is a published author and Sophomore college student who’s been adjusting to at-home learning while maintaining her daily writing practice.
“COVID-19 caught us all by surprise. Especially me since it was my first year in college and I was adjusting to my new life when this happened. Then everything became remote learning and I found myself stressing out and trying to figure out a way to get this work done.
“I don’t know how I did it but I did. I had to calm myself down, read, listen to music, isolate myself from everybody in my house and just keep moving.
“The main way I kept my mental health together was reading and writing. It’s something I enjoy doing and I tend to get lost in my own world when I do so. It was needed very frequently, especially on the days when I would start overthinking and letting myself worry about things I couldn’t control. So, I try to take an hour out every day and write some things down so I can keep my sanity and keep that little fire in me alive and burning.”
- Chyanne Adams, Author
Chyanne’s optimistic about stay-at home orders inspiring folks to read more and thus opening more doors for her to get her book in front of more eyes.
“I think it’ll get more people to notice me and follow my career being that the virus has forced the world to slow down and appreciate the things around them they once took for granted.”
Chyanne Adams, Author
Buy her book, Unwritten Black Girl Rules, here.
Conclusion
Although this global crisis, Coronavirus, has turned all our worlds upside down, artists are remaining optimistic about the future and are finding new, innovative ways to connect with audiences digitally.
Systemic injustices and lack of government leadership has brought much to light in our own, inner-industries’ systemic issues.
Things are changing and artists are adaptable.
These ten artists are inspiring to me. All staying creative, productive, and pushing their personal art and their mediums at large to respond to the moment.
None of us know how long this moment will last, but it’s clear all of us are ready to survive and thrive throughout this pandemic and long after its effects are lessened.
Your Artful Effort
We all have enough on our plates, and I’m not going to add to yours to wrap up this blog. I simply encourage you to take a piece from whatever response was most meaningful to you and hold onto in in solidarity with your fellow creative folks.
And, keep supporting your communities whether it’s monetarily buy buying prints and books, signing up for Patreons, or buying tickets to virtual shows; or, through sharing other artists’ work on social media, recommending their work to potential buyers, or simply reaching out and saying, “Hey, I like your work.”
We’re all in this together.
Stay safe and sane everyone.
