Editor’s Note: Creative Living Amid COVID-19

Week one of quarantine is nearly over.

The administration finally declared a state of emergency in response to the Coronavirus outbreak, Americans have been in a sheer panic ever since. And rightfully so. As stocks continue to plummet while businesses shut their doors, we are forced to also reconcile the systemic failures causing poor management of this crisis. Faults such as our primitive, unprincipled healthcare system; the contentious wage inequality and economic warfare ravaging the poor and middle classes. In a matter of days, this health scare has exposed the dangers of our social and political retardation. An ailment that leaves the most vulnerable bare to the brunt. Unprotected in terms of economics and well-being.

Creatives, freelancers, those underpaid, uninsured, and underinsured. People just like you and me are the ones who will endure the most. That is true both statistically and historically. However, as creatives, this quarantine is an opportunity to finetune inner worlds; to refine the ways by which we live creatively. Social distancing is nothing new to us! We know all too well the substantial correlation between introversion and creativity. In her University of South Carolina senior thesis, “Innovative and Introverted,” Rose Needle sites a 1990 study that “listed introversion specifically as a characteristic of creative persons.” This is our time to do what we do best: Go inward and reinvent. 

I know we could all use a break from soundbites chastising us average Janes and Joes for lacking savings enough to cover lost wages. I avoid notions informed by unethical analyses that are then passed off as fiscal “pragmatism.” Capitalism is funny in that way, where the exploited majority may uphold the very institution overworking them, returning to them not even the bare minimum. I.e. affordable universal healthcare and living wages. It’s hard enough to find and keep permanent work as a creative, let alone save when you live paycheck to paycheck. THAT is the reality of 74% of Americans, as reported in a 2019 survey by the American Payroll Association. Down just four points from CareerBuilder‘s study in 2017. So yes, you have every right to ignore anyone spewing rhetoric that does not consider income inequality. Thought-leadership without context and compassion isn’t leadership at all. This note is not a lesson. Instead, it’s an inspirational care package in the form of actionable content.

Why? Because I do believe this period of isolation is ripe for honing our creative lives. I have taken this time to do just that for myself and thought it may be helpful to share with our community. Good content keeps you informed and inspired, and that is why I created this platform in the first place. The activities I’ve prioritized have reignited my optimism, given me clarity, and raised me out of a productivity rut. My hope is that these suggestions will help you stay in alignment with your creative flow too.  

Consult the stars. Just hear me out. 

Whether it’s with traditional religion, alt-spirituality, or wellness practices, we all have rituals that feed our spirit. Indulge your inner world and let it guide your creative expression at this time. Spirituality for me looks like astrology, chakra candles, smudging with sage, crystals, and writing. I make sense of the crisis by combining data with planetary activity. For instance, Uranus (the planet of revolution and innovation) is transiting the sign of Taurus, which deals with our value systems, resources, and stability. Here we see this astrological conversation playing out in real-time; how do we treat each other? How do we appreciate resources?

The combination of these energies encourages us to think higher, evaluate our values, and yes, push for change. Uranus also rules humanitarianism and mass media. No matter what medium, your art, and your platforms can inspire the world around you more easily right now. The stars say so. Simply, Astrology is a tool that guides us in flowing with the energies of our Universe. So, speak freely from a place of empowerment that Uranus in Taurus surely brings. The planets are supporting your radical creativity. 

Explore your mind and skills. 

It’s a quarantine, take advantage of it! Journal, draw, or doodle. Write a love letter you’ll never send. Take free online courses for the hell of it. Platforms such as LinkedIn Learning and Class Central offer classes at no cost with optional paid certifications. I’ve enrolled in courses like Data Analytics, Arts and Culture Strategy, and The Science of Well-Being. Topics I either want to expand my knowledge on or begin to learn. Our minds enjoy over-stimuli anyway, it’s harder to change that than it is to be intentional with how much and what we consume. So let your mind wander in the good stuff. Experiment with novel concepts, try a new art medium or rest so you can daydream peacefully. Travel with your thoughts and allow them to spark new ideas you can manifest tangibly.

A quick search will turn up art activities to do at home by yourself, or with friends and family. This article from the High Museum of Art (Atlanta) is a guide for an art-making activity that is kid-friendly. Atlanta small-businesses and art communities are banding together to offer resource lists and similar activities, such as Ashley Daramola of Artzy Bella Studio and Shop. Checking in with your network has never been more necessary. You might be surprised by how many helpful sources you are connected to.

Virtual experiences

Your favorite influencers are churning out their most raw content as a result of the shakeup. Most entrepreneurs are pivoting to focus on revising digital strategies to keep their audiences engaged and encouraged. It’s no surprise if you see a founder or CEO’s face more than before because consumers have demanded transparency. That means pushing out more free or discounted digital experiences, such as live workshops and community talks, resource lists and personal insights on how teams are managing. We’ve seen live concerts from celebs on social media, a grassroots tactic once reserved for indie artists. Put out a series of living room concerts on Twitter or IGTV. The world is all eyes and ears for the next few weeks.

The same goes for the visual art world. There are virtual galleries on many museum websites like the Brooklyn Museum, High Museum of Art, MoMA and SCAD Museum of Fine Art. Google Arts and Culture partnered with over 2,500 museums and galleries to offer a database of virtual exhibitions from around the world.

Don’t let this quarantine stop you from enjoying the artsy shit you love.

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