For N.S. artists, COVID has brought change

Both positive and negative impacts

Visuals artists across the Province of Nova Scotia say COVID-19 has brought both positive and negative changes to their industry.

When businesses began shutting their doors in March 2020 as a result of public health restrictions, art galleries were among the hardest hit.

Rhonda Barrett, a Halifaxbased artist, closed her studio just before public health restrictions were put in place.

“I was intending to get another one,” Barrett said.

“Unfortunately everything just kind of spiralled and I haven’t found anything.”

Barrett makes collages from old newspapers. One reason the search for a new space has been difficult is because of recent development in the city, said Barrett.

“A lot of spaces in Halifax have been remodelled and torn down,” she said.

Rental prices have also risen, making it difficult for artists who don’t have a lot of money, Barrett said.

“Art is always one of those things that is at the bottom of people’s list anyway, so we get knocked off pretty quick,” she said.

Barrett had a website before the pandemic where she was able to direct her clients when closures began.

“A lot of sales just weren’t happening anymore,” Barrett said.

“I had to shift gears pretty quickly.”

Barrett was recently part of Art 1274 Hollis, an arts co-op based in Halifax. When the pandemic began, they had no online platform, Barrett said.

“It became quite apparent that we had to get that up and running quickly. The pandemic really affected us there.”

Barrett recently started to use Instagram to promote her business and said she has been finding success in new markets.

“I’m reaching a whole new audience and a new branch of people I didn’t have access to before," Barrett said. “It’s really made me aware of the ups and downs of the industry.”

One Halifax-based painter, Mohamed Ahmed, also had to move his business online after recently closing his art gallery in part due to COVID-19.

“I was running the gallery on my own, and my studio as well,” said Ahmed.

“To keep the place and to maintain expenditure in these tough times, it’s not an easy task,” he said.

It has been a struggle to get people to see his work online, Ahmed added.

“There has not been much response online," Ahmed said.

“We are considering making it online only, everybody now is going online.”

Ahmed said he is unsure if he will reopen the gallery to the public.

“I just have to take a break, just to take some off and then I will re-consider if it is still viable,” he said.

Dawn MacNutt, a sculptor living in Pictou, said the pandemic hasn’t harmed her business.

“Actually, I’ve been surprisingly busy,” MacNutt said.

The 84-year-old has been sculpting for more than 40 years. Fourteen years ago, MacNutt opened an art studio in Pictou County.

“I’m still doing, but my pace is certainly more thoughtful,” she said.

MacNutt held a virtual show for her art at the start of the pandemic and said she plans to have more.

“I’ve been happy enough to respond to invitations for sending work for exhibitions,” MacNutt said.

“Strangely all in the past year,” she said.

As an artist, it’s important to take inspiration from struggle, MacNutt said.

“The things that take us down can actually inspire doing better," she said.

“It’s a time for creativity, it’s a time for thinking of new ways of doing things, and I’m perhaps very fortunate that I’m able to do that.”