It’s been more than a week since the shelter-in-place order was given. But even before the order was given, art galleries and museums had been connecting virtually with viewers for upwards of two weeks. Most went on hiatus and began canceling events in order to protect those tempted to gather in large crowds (and as we have learned, Chicagoans are very tempted). This unfortunately includes a large number of students who were planning to present their thesis work in student exhibitions. Graduating during a pandemic probably wasn’t in their adult-life plan, and their employment, living situations, and well-being are at risk as they propel themselves into the new reality that is COVID living.
How does an online-only gallery like Cook’s work? With more than 16,000 followers, professors submit the work for their students via a website in the bio of the gallery’s Instagram account. Students can also decide to submit on behalf of their class. “Because I [have] such a high level of response, I am asking that schools submit their entire shows as a group rather than each student reaching out independently,” Cook says.
Yvonne Martinez, a fiber and material studies student, was slated to graduate from SAIC with her MFA this spring. Martinez owns most of her equipment and has been able to work remotely in her makeshift studio in her room in Logan Square. Martinez has been taking her work to Twitch, where she is livestreaming herself with her physical fiber materials. For Martinez’s original idea for the MFA thesis show, she was going to present large knitted pieces with an accompanying performance during the opening. “I use a hacked knitting machine to generate large pieces of fabric with screenshots and images from my computer desktop on them,” she says. In self-isolation, she says, “I’m developing a web application where the audience of the performance would be able to submit text/imagery in real-time to me and watch as I print the images out using my knitting machine. I would be streaming the whole thing on Twitch at the same time, so my online audience could participate as well.” Martinez’s interests lie in blending the digital experience with the physical world, which makes her practice in isolation continue with ease. “While most of this can and does exist online, the audience participation and translation into the physical world is important, and I don’t want that to be missing from my thesis show.”
“Everyone is going through a similar thing,” Cook says. ”Self-isolation has been strange. The lack of information and clear messaging has made things a bit scary. We are in the early stages of this and the long-term effects are yet to be seen. I am just taking things one day at a time. I am trying to stay informed, working on this project, and rewriting my syllabi to reflect a new, remote teaching schedule.” On the positive side, Cook’s family is healthy and he’s been able to spend more time with his partner and two dogs.
