How the Pandemic is Affecting Local Artists and Performers

How the Pandemic is Affecting Local Artists and Performers

The COVID-19 virus pandemic has affected just about everyone in the country in some way. The shutdown of nonessential activities in Pennsylvania in March, in particular, created challenges for many artists and musicians. Several local artists spoke with us recently about how social distancing and stay-at-home restrictions have affected their creative work and activities.

Jack Troy, Huntingdon potter extraordinaire, said that as a “diabetic geezer with lung issues from breathing clay dust for 50+ years,” he needed to be cautious and avoid the virus. Although one of his wood-burning kilns was fired in mid-March, it remained unloaded for months because it wasn’t safe for the many potters who used it to come together. “The prolonged sense of unknowing is unprecedented for all of us,” he said.

Jack went on to say that he had to cancel the most important event of the year: hosting a Japanese potter to a firing with 19 other potters in mid-June. As he lamented, “So many painstaking details to scuttle.” In addition, three pottery workshops scheduled for later in the summer are unlikely to happen.

To pass the time in seclusion, Jack has been revising more than 40 of his poems, based on feedback from three other writers, for inclusion in a book (as yet untitled).

Andrea Darby is a painter, yoga instructor, and owner of A. C. Darby Studio in Huntingdon. Because her studio is closed, she no longer is able to sell art, teach in-person yoga classes, or hold events like open-mic nights. She is fortunate to have another job as a mental health worker, however, and is not entirely dependent on her studio for income.

To adapt to current circumstances, Andrea has been teaching yoga classes online and has received some donations from this work. She also is thinking about offering drawing lessons online.

As Andrea said, “I have been making the most of this time. It has been years since I’ve had this much time at home. Being back with family is nice, even though I miss the shop, planning events, and being in my creative space.” Andrea is still being productive, however, and has been filling orders for custom artwork from her home.

Rachel Miller runs the Inspire Art Studio in Mount Union and is president of the Mount Union Art Guild. She was forced to cancel weekly meetings of the Art Guild last March, and it’s not clear when the group will be able to meet again. Rachel also had to close her studio for the time being, which means that she no longer is able to offer group painting sessions or zentangle and mandala classes.

During the downtime, Rachel has been learning how to live stream—something that was on her to-do list for a long time. Several of these painting lessons have been posted on Facebook. As she said, “The situation is a hardship but also an opportunity. I actually have become more “social” in some ways. Although live videos and streaming are new for me, they allow me to connect with friends and family all over the country, people that I never get to see.” Rachel also has been working on several commissions.

Chris Drobnock is a ceramic artist living in Mount Union. A former student of Jack Troy, Chris creates traditional wood-fired pottery and brightly colored, playful ceramic wares. He said that he is fortunate to have his own private studio—a place where he can stay productive during the crisis. Like many people these days, Chris feels a strain every time he goes to the store. As he said, “It feels like winter has dragged on even though it is spring time.” He also worries about people without access to healthcare or who need to be tested but can’t.

During these difficult times, Chris has been finding solace in games of all sorts: computer games, card games, and table top games. He especially likes multiplayer games for the social element. As he said, “Learning the rules of games, the format, and how to flourish within the limits of the game. Much of life is like that now.”

Like other artists, the pandemic has put a dent in Chris’s sales. He usually sells his work at several “brick and mortar” places, including 321 Gallery in Hollidaysburg. But Chris also sells his creations of online and through personal contact. He hopes that the pandemic has “heightened the awareness of people to connect through the internet and find handmade objects.”

Mark Hill is a musician and a member of Biscuit Jam—a State College based group that also performs in the Huntingdon area. In fact, one of their performances was at the Arts Council’s Summer Solstice fundraiser in June of 2019. Mark said that 10 of their gigs were canceled in March alone. To make ends meet, members have turned to other activities such as dog walking and paper routes.

To keep active musically, they have been posting videos on Facebook on Saturday nights (with a virtual tip jar), and they use Zoom to perform for Happy Valley Winery regulars on Fridays. They would like to offer full live concerts online but do not have the necessary audiovisual equipment.

Despite the hard times, Mark was optimistic about the future, once restrictions are lifted. As he said, “I think the nonstudent venues will fare the best. The student venues lost a big chunk of their 2020 business and some will likely not reopen until fall. The wineries, breweries, cider joints, and distilleries have been busy doing curbside sales, so they will be okay. Within weeks of social distance being lifted, most will bounce back with a vengeance.”

These vignettes show that our local artists and performers are finding ways to express themselves through their art, despite the social and economic restrictions resulting from a worldwide virus pandemic. Of course, this is what artists always have done: find ways to continue creating beauty despite the inevitable hardships life throws in one’s way. As these restrictions are relaxed, let’s support our artists whenever possible. After all, they are local business people too!