Performing Art in Strange Times
For the next couple of weeks, Arts Commons blog will be posting stories speaking to performing artists in Calgary about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their lives, and how they are continuing to create art in a time when the sharing of the performing arts in its usual form is not possible. We will examine the essential role that the arts play in our lives, and look at what the future might hold.
You can also check out previous installments:
Performing in a Time of Performancelessness
Save Our Music
A Musician’s Pandemic Awakening
Read time: Under 2 minutes.
As COVID-19 has swept over the world, every performing arts centre has found themselves suddenly in a position where we are unable to share art in a safe and accessible way. Online performances multiplied, and now with the weather warmer, backyard concerts have popped up. With our audience members unable to come to us, Arts Commons started ArtsXpeditions, surprise arts encounters in parks and street corners around the city.
“If you are in that area, if you happen to be in that park or in that field on that street corner then this show is for you,” says Joshua Dalledonne, Programming Associate with Arts Commons. So far, ArtsXpeditions has popped up with over 25 performances in parks, outdoor seating areas, and even elderly care facilities.
Calgary jazzman Tim Tamashiro has visited Bethany Care Riverview as well as Bethany Care Calgary for two performances, felt that his performances were very well-received by the residents.
“Overall, it was a delightful experience! The residents seemed to know many of the songs. It was easy to get the residents to interact between shows. I was even lucky enough to have a few fans in the crowd," says Tim. “I feel the ArtsXpeditions provide a break from isolation for Calgarians. It benefits the audience and the entertainers. It’s like a visit back to being “normal” (whatever that is).”
For patients who couldn’t come outside to see Tim perform, Bethany Care broadcast the performance through the monitors of the facility so everyone could have a chance to partake.
At the first ArtsXpeditions performance, Kenna Burima spoke from the heart about her experience as both a mother of a young child, and a musician, and how the two often came to be at odds. For the audience members present, it was a beautifully intimate concert experience.
“There were a few tears, and not in a bad way,” says Kenna reflecting on how she felt when Arts Commons offered her the opportunity to perform as part of ArtsXpeditions. “So much of the way that I present my art and the way that I function as an artist in the public sphere is gone. And it is hard for me to come to terms with that. And I’m not the only one.”
The performers for ArtsXpeditions come from a range of backgrounds, experience, and practices from jazz, to classical, to R&B and hip hop. Amelia Eveta is a relative newcomer to the professional music scene and was excited to have the opportunity to perform as part of ArtsXpeditions.
“It’s different than anything I’ve ever done before,” says Amelia. “Usually when you have a show, you have a sense of who is going to be there, so it was interesting to see the people that showed up, and how they came together was interesting.”
So far Amelia has done two performances with ArtsXpeditions, one in the East Village and one at Central Memorial Park. With large gatherings outdoors still very much a concern, there is only an hour’s notice over social media prior to each performance. This means that who has a chance to experience the performance is truly organic.
“It’s therapeutic for me, but also energetically, it’s important for us to enjoy art.”
ArtsXpeditions will continue to appear in surprise locations around Calgary until the end of August and after that, we’ll just have to see what happens next! To find out where the next ArtsXpeditions will be popping up, follow our social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
