Here we are, seven weeks into the abyss that is the Coronavirus Shelter in Place and I thank my lucky stars that my family continues to enjoy good health. I hope you and yours are feeling similarly. We remember those who've succumbed to this disease, think of their families and say a prayer. At some point we'll get back to a routine, even if wearing a mask is part of the process, a small price to pay.
Events requiring my photography have all been cancelled, from celebrations and fundraisers, galas, runs, walks, races and chasing real news. Organizations are using what they have and rethinking spending ANY money at all this year, just to survive. We normally complain about a lack of time. Everybody does. "Not enough hours in the day," we say. Can't do that anymore.
Time, work, and money. It's hard to complain when you have so much of one of the three. Even at the expense of the other two. What to do with all that time? Do things for free for at least for yourself and hopefully someone else. For someone who creates art, it should be a no-brainer. Van Gogh, Picasso, O'Keefe, nor Kahlo never created art just to make money.
Their compulsion was their propulsion.
We all have talents. For me, it's photography. For you it could be any number of things. My cameras compel me to pick them up and create.
Others' work also compels me. Many days of the year I get out and cover events or scenes purely for enjoyment.
I make it my business to mark those events on my calendar.
Thanks to social media, that work finds a home and sometimes helps me to target opportunities for paying gigs.
Some weeks ago, I passed my neighbors in the hallway and asked them if they would be up for it a free photoshoot. I hadn't done a studio shoot in weeks, but for some reason needed to create something. Artists know what I'm talking about. There's just so much "other" art you can watch before deciding to do your own. The impetus can be envy, boredom, or the motivation to do something because you've never done it before. For me, it was a combination. So, I "popped up" the studio in some free space and created what you see.
Before we lose this special time, I encourage you to do your "thing," whatever that may be. Paint, sculpt, burnish, varnish, videograph, photograph, read, write a song, learn a song, write a short story, the great American novel, a blogpost, etc. Oh yeah and maybe clean the house and shine your shoes. Because before you know it, we'll be back to routine and wonder what happened to that precious time during those crazy months in 2020/2021.