Q: How has the crisis affected your everyday life?
A: Thus far it has meant working my teaching job from home through on-line portals which is a poor way to interact with students. The most pressing impact has been trying to help my students manage the stress and disappointment of losing their studios, degree show, and graduation ceremony while also trying to get them to adapt to an unprecedented situation and find ways to manage their frustration and think critically about the situation. Helping them is exhausting and overwhelming.
Q: How has the crisis affected your practice?
A: Upcoming solo and group shows are in question now. I was preparing for a major solo show in November and now I continue making the work but cannot work with the framer and photographer to get the work finished and documented. It is also harder to maintain focus on the work because I am working through issues with my students and trying to manage my own compulsion to listen to the news all the time or hide from it.
Q: How has the crisis affected you economically?
A: So far, my main income is safe, but my employer is small and the repercussions of this may have a drastic effect on its future. I had a sale of my work that started just before this seems to be in jeopardy.
Q: What is the role of culture in a time of crisis?
A: To provide critical response to power, and injustice. To provide an avenue for people to consider and experience moments of joy, sadness, celebration and mourning. As an outlet / expression of new ideas, moments of “beauty”, and to build communities around those things.
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Name:
Age: 56
Occupation: Artist & College professor