This pandemic is unlike anything that I have experienced in my lifetime, and I am having difficulty finding ways to ground myself in this moment in time. As I am working through this process of understanding, grounding myself in this new reality, grieving many losses—I am also thinking about the many artists who I have worked with throughout the past few months. I have met and bonded with incredible artists who are kind, compassionate and hardworking. Some of these artists are folks who could be experiencing the worst of COVID-19’s repercussions because of housing instability, pre-existing health conditions, disability status, age, the effects of structural racism, lack of access to health care, loss of income and loss of community. It is heartbreaking to know the artists who found community and comfort from services provided at Avivo and MSS no longer have access to them, at least temporarily. It is even more heartbreaking to think what they may or may not be facing alone.
I have been in contact with Hannah from MSS and will be working on a virtual lesson for when folks come back. In my personal art practice, I have been sewing some face masks, but otherwise having a difficult time creating.