Arts institutions, artists ‘devastated’ during pandemic

SEATTLE — Art has been popping up across Seattle as artists put their skills to vibrant use around the city.

But make no mistake: The governor’s stay-at-home order has shuttered arts institutions and forced artists to look for other ways to make ends meet.

This pandemic has forced a lot of artists to consider the way they do their work and how they can make that work translate into a way to run their lives.

So, this has been an interesting time for almost all of them.

“Surprisingly, nobody wants to blow glass in a pandemic,” said KCJ Szwedzinski.

That unsettling fact has Szwedzinski doing what this interdisciplinary artist calls “action drawing.”

“I have a few projects going that are helping me to pass the time and alleviate anxiety,” said Szwedzinski. “And also document the process as we are in it.”

Her partner, David Walters, is an artist, too. “I spent a good deal of my time working for other people helping them make glasswork,” said Walters. “So that aspect of my practice has been halted.”

Their income has largely dried up. They have received the federal stimulus checks and some grants.

As for rent? “We asked them for the month of April to hold our check until we could get unemployment,” Szwedzinski said. “Luckily my partner, we were able to file his unemployment.”

"Like so many parts of our community, it's been pretty devastating," said Randy Engstrom, the director of the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.

He said that hasn’t stopped artists from creating; the murals painted on shuttered businesses are sparkling proof of that.

Large arts institutions have been creative mostly online, too.

“Now we’re trying to adjust, and we’re trying to reimagine,” said Engstrom. “And we’re trying to think about how can we deliver content and employ artists and sustain our businesses while we’re sheltering in place.”

The city of Seattle gave $1.5 million in grants early on. Engstrom said more help could be on the way.

And, of course, artists are still creating.

The arts community is planning to hold a news conference Monday afternoon to tell us where they think they may be able to go as we get out of the extreme part of this pandemic.

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