Photo by Jeff Hahne

“In a time of destruction, create something.” ― Maxine Hong Kingston

I’ve been home since the middle of March.

I’d rather be out – going to a fancy restaurant then to a play. Or visiting an art gallery for the Friday night crawl; even opera would be fun, or maybe ballet. But no, not now, I’ve been at home.

Businesses are just now beginning to reopen – gradually, carefully. Hopefully, soon we can all get back to normal.

But what will normal be?

What will be different? Will the fancy restaurant still be there, the playhouse, the art gallery? What about the opera and ballet?

I am particularly concerned about artists. I wonder how they’ve been. Not just the painters, sculptors, actors, dancers, and musicians, but the folks practicing their art in restaurants, bakeries, and cafés. All the places I enjoy. All the places that inspire me. All the places that nourish my body and my soul.

I look forward to all of that again – once this lonely lockdown ends.

I hope they will all be ready when it’s time to reopen. But what if they’re not? What if they don’t – or can’t – take Maxine Hong Kingston’s advice. What if they couldn’t survive to create?

Artists don’t have the benefits I do. Oh sure, they have other rewards, but those don’t put food on the table or buy clothes for the baby. That’s why I’m glad I can help.

I can donate to the Arts and Science Council for their Resiliency Fund to support artists and performers impacted by this nasty COVID-19.

I can contribute to the Neighborhood Theatre on their GoFundMe page to support Charlotte’s largest independent music venue.

Or, I can do something personal, something for that exceptional painter who hasn’t sold anything of late.

I can do something for the dancer who has worn out her point shoes, or the busker with no passers-by on his corner, or the writer who’s still hoping to be published.

I look for them on social media, then love and share their stories. I can watch, like, share, and subscribe to their YouTube channels.

Best of all, I can say, “Thank you for being you” with Venmo. Yes – Venmo .. and if you don’t know them, ask a grandchild. They’re part of PayPal: safe and easy to use. Open an account linked to your bank, and it’s free. Then all you need is the artist’s eMail, phone number, or Venmo handle, and you’re set. Include a note with your gift and smile as you read their reply.

Artists and artisans are essential, and never more so than in days of destruction. So why not be a hero to the artist(s) you love?

If art is important in bad times as well as good, why do you suppose that to be so?

Tell me how you have supported artists, and others, in this peculiar time?

As always, the conversation starts here.

“In the ordinary choices of every day we begin to change the direction of our lives.” – Eknath Easwaran

Epilogue

“What can we do together even while we are alone?” asked the students and alumni of The Juilliard School. They knew Maxine Hong Kingston was right, “In a time of destruction, create something.”

Spend some time with them and know, as I do, they will be ready when it’s safe for the curtain to go up. And after you’ve watched the video, tell me what famous Juilliard alumni you spotted.