The Community Tries to Recover

 I live near Colorado Springs, and they have a thriving art community there.  But, just as with most other institutions, it is struggling to recover and/or adjust to this pandemic.  On Friday, my husband and I went to the First Friday Art Walk downtown.  Normally, on a beautiful summer night, this is a bustling event. 

But this time it was quiet.  I really liked the message painted on the wall, above: What you say to someone with depression can change everything.  (The larger, colorful letters above it say, We are in this Together.)

The theme of the event was 1985-Take on Me.  Local artists had contributed work that represented what 1985 was like to them.  Here I am (with my mask hanging from my ear) in the main gallery. Alas, there were not a lot of pieces to evoke 1985.

The art walk takes place at various locations; we were at the Cottonwood Center, which is a building full of studios where local artists make and sell their art -- everything from stained glass to fiber art to photography.

Despite the lack of a crowd, there were signs of artistic life to be found...

A studio/workspace that I found intriguing...

tactile art on display...

lots of evidence of repurposing...

I was fascinated by the possibilities with this fiber art technique...

After looking around, we felt very glad we'd ventured over, as it must have been so discouraging to all the artists to have the event so poorly attended.

Rather than go straight back home, we decided to try a nearby restaurant that is well-known as a great spot, but one that we'd never made it to before!  It was, though, as empty and quiet as the art event had been.

We made a meal of appetizers and drinks; here, Dennis eats whole chiles that had decorated one of the dishes!  I cringed but he insisted they were quite mild mannered!

I don't know about you, but with the heat and having to be masked most of the time, I have taken to going without face makeup at all.  So here I am, au natural!

Our county is still trending up, although finally flattening a bit, with cases of COVID.  Things are most definitely nowhere near back to normal, and while cities like Colorado Springs struggle to recover, we are doing our best to help.  We venture out just a little while remaining safe.  Do you?  I'd love to hear about your experiences doing the same in your area.