(Note that there are no names shown in the online survey responses, since they were anonymous, and I abbreviated the names of those who replied directly to me.)
In my June 2020 Artzine, I asked two questions of my newsletter subscribers:
Whether they considered themselves an art collector, art appreciator, or artist
What the arts have meant to them during this historic time of the coronavirus pandemic
I was surprised and touched by many responses received, and the thoughtfulness and emotions shared. There were so many I could not include them all in my July 2020 Artzine, so instead I’m sharing them here. Readers had the option of either replying to my email directly, or using an online survey to reply anonymously.
| Name | Collector / Appreciator / Artist | How the arts have helped |
|---|---|---|
| R.B. | appreciator | I use the ‘arts’ to calm the stress and anxiety, especially relaxing music. Reading or watching the news only exacerbates the problem and I can’t drown myself into my work. So, relaxing music puts me into a more positive mood. |
| J.M. | appreciator | During my lockdown, I started to view a local artist's website and received pleasure just looking. I learned she took the leap of faith to open her own gallery/studio last winter …she informed me that her website became busier with people being home. I guess art appreciators can't let a deadly virus get in the way!! - I purchased a small piece |
| M.M. | artist | …most of all I am grateful for my health and being an artist who can continue creating from home. (Isolation is Ok!) Creating art has been a gift during these times! Surprisingly I sold my first painting “online” last month after participating in an online “virtual show”. The buyer was hesitant due to not being able to see it in person first (the COVID influence), but after a few email exchanges and learning more about me as a person, it all worked out! |
| J.W. | appreciator | I do not consider myself a collector because I am more limited means and with those means I spend on Ponies and carriages; HOWEVER, I do have a few of only YOUR works because I LOVE them. ….I HAVE streamed many more movies and series, binged watched even… |
| J.B. | appreciator | I love having art around, it soothes my soul! I wish I could create fine arts, but my talent there has simply not surfaced! I do consider my garden a form of art and love to create areas that again soothe my soul! The actual planting of things is more satisfaction than work. |
| L.S. | artist | I am so grateful, like you, to have my art to focus on. All my gallery shows were cancelled, I have a teaching studio I am now closing down so very sad about that chapters of many years building the Russian River Atelier. I do have commissions coming in so very grateful for that |
| N.A. | artist | I couldn’t have made it without my art, to go into my studio all day and work on new ideas for illustrations or paintings, it’s very peaceful and I’m grateful for it. I still go to my studio 9-5 everyday. Give it to someone. What I have learned, it doesn’t matter if I am getting paid for it or not...... I need to be doing art for my happiness. Getting lost in my work is good for my soul, as well as my long daily walks and trail ride. |
| G.H. | appreciator | I have had time to remodel and landscape my home. That is my "art" |
| V.B. | artist | I’m an artist, but don’t really feel like one right now. Nothing seems to be working – but I keep trying, of course. |
| D.W. | artist | It is very frustrating to create work for a specific show only to have the show cancelled or postponed...certainly doesn't help to pay the current rent. But the worst part is not being able to meet and share the art with other people. My studio walls used to be my friends but I think that they are getting as tired of me as I am of them! |
| P.C. | Collector | I used to hang my art at my home and business and change them out every 3 months or so. My employees loved it, as did I. Now I appreciate, mostly without buying. |
| M.J.B. | artist | I’ve been painting in black and white; perhaps it’s my reaction to my mood. I’ve continued to create in spite of my husband working here 24/7 (haha) - the good news is that now he’s building me a studio! My artwork has kept me growing (question 2), so for that, I am so grateful. Art gives me peace; an anchor. |
| K.E. | artist | I've been feeling fear, confusion and aimlessness. But when I actually pick up a brush the world disappears. I've had only a fraction of brush time to my usual, but it's provided me with an opportunity to re-imagine my career, re-prioritise and let go of the pace I was setting for myself. |
| M.L. | artist (and quilter) | painting and creating art quilts have been a saving grace for many years now. It seems we are compelled to keep the creativity ongoing no matter what! Two days before lockdown here in Montana, I went to the humane soc. Shelter intending to pet the animals and one cat, ( Summer), befriended me and I brought her home with me a couple days later. She has been my companion during this time, she is fun and keeping me not to dwell on being home all the time….I have done more praying for the many people who are literally putting their lives on the front lines every minute of every day. |
| S.T. | artist | Art has kept me sane as we find ourselves”stranded” and our plans dramatically changed since moving to the other side of the world in February. I now find as I sit in my makeshift studio that I am far more sensitive to the plight of the environment and nature. |
| James W. | collector, appreciator, and artist | When I was in dental school I learned lost wax casting and made many pieces of gold jewelry for my mother, sisters, and Sharon. Many years ago when I started my dental practice…I began to purchase paintings for my office. …During the pandemic I have had the time to enjoy looking at all of them more closely. Many of the paintings remind me of a favorite place or time that [my wife] and I have enjoyed around our great country! |
| Janis W. | artist | I am an artist past my prime and I keep my art books and magazines close during the quarantine and a divorce, but I do not paint. |
| Jan W. | artist | (UK) I couldn’t paint at all in the first few weeks, I felt bewildered, in a dreamworld, but after, a friend suggested we paint once a week for a couple of hours at the same time, FaceTiming so we could chat at the same time- it did the trick and now I’m painting quite a lot, mostly from my photos, taken on my trips to USA and Africa. I’m still in lockdown but I haven’t gone stir crazy yet.! |
| J.J. | collector / appreciator | I love looking at the art ive collected! Especially in these ‘lock down ‘ days. It’s all over the walls, amusing me, calling to me, inspiring me to recreate the moment I first fell for it. I’m just tickled by each piece. THATS WHAT ART DOES FOR ME. |
| J.K. | appreciator | If I had to make the choice between fly fishing the Madison and visiting an art museum or gallery, it might be a tough choice. And knowing how thrilled I am at the sight of a rising brown, that says a lot. …The pandemic has been continuous background noise, feeding us fear and anxiety with non-stop information and misinformation. There are only a few things that are so intrinsically rewarding, where I can become so absorbed in what I am doing that I am able to lose track of everything else. Fly fishing is one, an absurd methodology for catching fish, whose success depends on my complete attention to the water, the weather, the gear, and the wind knot that routinely appears at the end of my tippet. Another is art. Art, good or bad, success or failure, puts me in a place where I can become sufficiently lost in the act of creating, and at least for a while, is a place where all the background noise gets pushed aside. |
| K.W. | appreciator | Arts, in general, has been a source of reassurance and inspiration for me. To be sure, folks such as yourself, what with the openness & sharing of your posts, and the beauty in your art, have been a connection and a reminder of what is good out there. But I've also been impressed from a business & engagement standpoint, how wonderfully inventive 'the arts' has been during the pandemic. This in turn brings me hope about the goodness of people and - possibly - the future of our society in general. |
| T.M. | collector | With art shows, museum exhibitions and in-person auctions cancelled I am more than grateful to have a fabulous collection of art by living artists surrounding us to enjoy every day. I'm very worried about galleries closing and artists' financial health, as well as their physical health. Since the lock-down I have made several purchases of paintings and custom frames online with fabulous results. |
| ANONYMOUS | ——— | FROM SURVEYMONKEY |
| artist | Sadly I have been nothing but a couch potato, used the time away from the small gallery I volunteer at to catch up on shows. But I do enjoy flipping through facebook and youtube checking out art. | |
| collector |
solace…I have reveled in the many offerings of art, music, & words from those trying to give back to everyone affected. But I am fearful that they (the artists) will be as sharply affected as other small businesses and hope all can carry on. | |
| collector |
Distraction from the drumbeat of what's happening across the world. I breathe when I look at our collected art, and think of the places each one represents and the artists who have become friends. Art is personal, telling a visual story that builds a bridge from the artist to the collector. I enjoy those stories again and again, especially when the world is chaotic. | |
| artist | the same but I miss going to museums | |
| artist | Solace and educational connections to artists I would not have possibly been able to take workshops or lessons without online offering during the shutdown. | |
| artist | The best answer for number one would be “all of the above”. Not much has changed for me during this time. I’m still creating my art, looking at and purchasing art. I am thankful to have my creative spirit during this time to help distract my mind from the current turmoil in the world. | |
| artist | Although I am primarily an artist I also have a gallery in Australia representing 30+ artists as well as a framing service. Business has been badly affected (down by 75%) but that has given me more time to spend on my own art which is a bonus. | |
| collector | Aside from liking how the art makes my house feel, I recorded several videos from home for work and chose the pieces I featured in the background very deliberately, because the videos were intended for the public. | |
| appreciator | Our main outlet is listening to our sons on their musical instruments. It has been a real boon to have their live instruments fill the house when we are all trapped at home. Our secondborn is an alto saxophone player woodwind brother-in-arms to you (as well as bass guitar and ukulele, and may I also brag, a better-than-average digital artist.) Our eclectic firstborn is piano, percussionist, and more recently, self-taught guitar. He composes truly decent piano movements… Your beautiful work has always graced our home and influenced both sons, I am certain. |
|
| artist | There is hardly any difference between creating art before and during the pandemic. Art is always a passion for me, creating it as well as looking at artworks of other artists. So it's great to have artists share their work on the web and many of them produced and shared making of videos and tutorials due to the fact that during the pandemic there is no other way to get in contact with the fans and art lovers. I really appreciate your efforts to share new art on facedbook and via your artzine, Julie. |
(Note that there are no names shown in the online survey responses, since they were anonymous, and I abbreviated the names of those who replied directly to me.)