Podcast | For artists, coronavirus is both curse and catalyst
When Washington state prohibited gatherings, it closed the curtain on traditional arts events. But many artists have found a way to go on.
Co-director and dancer Danielle Doell says she and the other dancers miss the experience of an in-person show with an audience. But by staging drive-by performances, they have continued to perform. (Devin Muñoz)
When the coronavirus came to Washington, almost every working artist saw their plans evaporate. Theater, dance and musical performances were canceled, while galleries and bookshops were temporarily shuttered to adhere with the social distancing measures put in place in states throughout the nation. But the artistic impulse, as well as the need for a steady income, did not subside. With the help of digital media, Seattle artists pivoted quickly to reframe their existing works as digital experiences, or to create wholly new works inspired by the pandemic. This Changes Everything host Sara Bernard speaks with Crosscut arts and culture editor Brangien Davis about the blow dealt to the arts industry and how the new methods of creating and sharing art could change the way artists and audiences interact after the virus has passed.
Artists and events that appear in this episode: The Argument's Covid Covers, Marcy Stone Francois's Going Viral series, Erin Jorgensen, Tomo Nakayama, Café Racer Sessions, Dance Church from Velocity Dance, Silent Reading Party, SIFF, Hugo House.
