I originally wrote and posted this on March 21, a little more than a week after the COVID-19 shutdown. Like my clients – most of whom are artists, art organizations, arts-related businesses, or non-profits promoting events – I quickly found myself unemployed. With Phase 2 of reopening just beginning now, and performances and events cancelled until an unspecified Phase 4, I continue to be inspired by my artist clients.
Even in the best of times, artists have a tough time making a living. Art isn’t considered a necessity for most, and I have to admit that it doesn’t fall within the basic-needs category. Its incalculable value is something I have never questioned, however – the need to create and to appreciate the creative is, I believe, innate.
Within a week of the start of shut-downs, two long-time clients of mine – both internationally renowned, Rochester-based groups – came up with brilliant ideas to combat the traumatic halt in paid work by staying engaged in the creative process and connecting with community.
PUSH Physical Theatre responded to the disappearance of real-time, in-person access to the arts and arts education by creating a series of teaching videos. So far, they have created 10 videos — from “Harder Than It Looks” to “Partnering Without a Partner” – offering them for free to anyone on their YouTube channel. Meanwhile, this award-winning company has lost more than $50,000 in cancelled bookings, and that’s just performances and workshops that were already scheduled by March. Performing and teaching live is a far-off dream at this point, although they are certainly working on some creative solutions.
“Because there are so many under-served young people who may not have access to complicated technology, it’s important to us that these services remain free and easy to use,” adds PUSH Co-Founder/Co-Director Darren Stevenson. (Consider an online donation if you’re able.)
AirigamiTM (the fine art of folding air) has – in its typical out-of-the-box thinking – come up with some imaginative ventures of its own. Known for creating huge balloon installations all over the world, one of its overarching missions is community building. In March, Airigami Creative Director Kelly Cheatle launched the first (hopefully not annual) #antisocialartshow – Let’s make stuff together (separately). The Instagram gallery features every genre possible with just one rule: participants have to use what they have on hand. “It totally defeats the purpose if you head out to the store,” she explains.
The Antisocial Art Show is free, but Airigami also launched some entrepreneurial delivery ideas to cheerily combat social distancing (https://www.airigami.com/shop) while making a few bucks: Floral Yard Stickers, Community Pop-Up Gardens, Window Wish Yard Displays, Happy B-Day and Congrats to Grads displays. The creations have brought a lot of joy to local folks.
Kelly and Larry have also begun experimenting with free online lessons, broadcast live from their home. There are five to check out so far, and a donation link as well:
“This is a scary time for all of us,” says Airigami Artistic Director Larry Moss. “As far as Airigami is concerned, our calendars may be empty, but our brains are still full of creative ideas that we want to share.”
A couple of weeks ago, another longtime friend and client, Deborah Haber, also decided to make lemonade out of lemons. She was the founding artistic producer of the former Rochester Children’s Theatre, now reinvented as DEEP Arts, of which she is executive artistic director. With the cancellation of her off-Broadway, summer run of LIKAH! A Puppy Musical, written by herself and Rochester award-winning composer Casey Filiaci, she decided to create fun, sing-along videos featuring the title character: her own Border Collie, Likah (pronounced “LEE-kah). She then devised downloadable activity pages and offers them both for free to all cooped-up kids and families at http://deeparts.org/likah/likah-at-home-activities. There are five so far, with more to come over the summer.
“The live musical touches and charms audiences of all ages,” Haber explains, “and my hope is that the videos and activities will do the same during these difficult times.”
And then, just last week, client and Western NY favorite Prime Time Funk released a socially-distanced music video with a message that speaks loudly to current events. Like so many other quarantined musicians, the 10-piece horn band has not been able to play together for several months – including its annual gig as house band for Rochester Music Hall of Fame’s Induction Ceremony at Kodak Hall, which was cancelled this year. They decided to take on the challenge of playing together separately, choosing to record the song, “Whatcha Gonna Do (When the World’s on Fire)?,” originally released on the band’s 2012 Hear and Now CD.
“’Whatcha Gonna Do’ is kind of timeless because, unfortunately, there’s always something devastating going on that can bring out the worst or the best in people,” says PTF Co-Founder James Richmond. “We had originally chosen the song because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the murder of George Floyd and the resulting protests make it even more appropriate.”
You know, for the past 15 years, my tagline has been “PR as creative as you are,” but my clients are the truly creative ones. Thank you for continuing to inspire me.
Best,
