Page 72 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2020- Online Magazine

Art in the age of
SOCIAL DISTANCING
t isn’t news to anyone that
all aspects of society have
Ibeen affected by the Covid-19
pandemic – education, industry,
retail, entertainment, travel, financial
markets. The list goes on.
As the nation adjusts to the new
reality of life under self-quarantine,
Lubbock is feeling the pressure with
stay-at-home ordinances and social
72 Lubbock Senior Link
by Danielle East
distancing. With the
closures of many art
galleries and museums, Joey Martinez, a Lubbock native,
as well as the cancellation of the who has painted various murals
monthly First Friday Art Trail and the around town considers himself
Lubbock Arts Festival, the growing fortunate. “Luckily, I had just finished
community of Lubbock artists is also revamping the graffiti building
feeling the impact. Many artists have [mural] at the corner of 5th Street and
had to become even more creative Avenue J. The wall was deteriorating
when it comes to their artwork. ... and a grant was given to provide
funds to do so,” said Martinez.
The East Lubbock Art House (ELAH)
has a plan for a community art center To get through these times, many
that is set to open in early 2021. ELAH artists have turned to social media and
will host art exhibitions by artists of websites to increase their exposure
color, art events, and basic art classes/ and make up for financial shortfalls.
workshops in East Lubbock. Its goal Some are making protective face
is to provide opportunities, not only masks, live streaming art classes,
for experienced artists, but also for and/or applying for relief grants.
anyone who wants to explore their Hernandez says she is awaiting
creative gifts. We also want to make more relief programs related to the
art available to the many in our city coronavirus to come from Lubbock
who have not had access to it before. arts organizations. “I’m hopeful.
Personally, I keep working. There
However, the chapter ahead will be are plenty of arts institutions that are
challenging for all of us. Many artists working to create grants and financial
have had art exhibitions, residencies, aid for artists right now,” she said.
and other events postponed or
cancelled until further notice. Mattie In the past few months, the Lubbock
Hernandez is an illustrative-artist arts community has used its voice
and a second-year Studio Arts MFA to spread awareness of the physical
candidate at Texas Tech University. and mental effects of the virus. It
She is uncertain about the times to has offered ways to keep students
come in relation to her career. “I’m engaged in the arts and has kept the
disappointed with all the cancellations Lubbock area updated on art news
and not having access to the art through #virtualfirstfridayarttrailLBK.
studio. Not knowing is the worst We know there will be a time when
part,” said Hernandez. the pandemic is behind us, but the
impact on Lubbock artists will have a
The circumstances have forced artists lasting effect.
in Lubbock to be innovative – like
Alberto Delgado, owner of the 24/7 Art is both fragile and enduring. It’s
Art Lounge, who has created all- a luxury and a necessity. It’s not just
supplies-included, ready-to-paint an artist’s income that falters during
stretched canvases, with contactless hard times. Creativity may suffer as
delivery. “I had three painting parties well. But art comes from the same
cancelled, but on the bright side, place in the heart as hope. The East
I’ve been able to sell pre-stretched Lubbock Art House is committed to its
canvases, so it has balanced itself out,” vision of offering a place for people to
he said. experience the value of both.