Arts
We’re back! Welcome to Season 2. Our last episode aired in May of last year, since then a lot has happened.You might recall our debating over organizational structures, whether or not to go nonprofit, what to do about the lack of money for the arts as a whole, the systemic problems and the essential need as artists to take care of each other and throw the parties we want to go to.The art world, along with everyone else, is now in a different kind of crisis because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). What is an appropriate way to proceed for a small arts organization like us? As ever, we are using ourselves as a case study to discuss these looming conundrums of an ever-evolving situation.Since you last heard from us we applied for and received a sizable seed grant from the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation to open a brick and mortar art space in downtown Eugene, which we named ANTI-AESTHETIC. We had our first show Dec 14th-Feb 15th, with plans for extensive programming moving forward, as well as an artist member fundraiser sale and exhibition. That is now on hold while we figure out what we can bring online, and what is better postponed indefinitely (scary words for all of us in this industry). Oh, and we have artist members!So we opened a space and very soon closed it. It’s been a rollercoaster. In this episode, we talk a little bit about our structure and our priorities: pay everyone according to W.A.G.E. (wageforwork.com) standards, artist members don’t pay fees, support artists first of all. We’re trying out a work group system where members can help out based on their own interests as an alternative way to approach value and exchange. Perhaps now more than ever, we need community. That’s why we want to maintain mutual artist support by doing things like happy hour on Zoom. As we stand at this edge of the unknown, we are asking ourselves whether it is ethical to push forward with online programming when people’s lives are at risk, many have lost their jobs, kids are stuck at home, and so on? On the other hand, can this unprecedented situation prompt us to do things differently, and to change our world now that we don’t have the illusion of stability? Is a different future possible?What art forms are going to come out of this period, are we entering another Dada moment? How will art making be impacted following social distancing measures, not to mention the loss of lives not only due to the virus itself but inadequate responses by governments around the world? We have more questions than answers, that’s for sure.Stay tuned. Links:http://wageforwork.comhttp://patreon.com/bofopodcast