Picasso said that “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” As Utah and the country enter another week of social distancing, keeping art in your life can seem like a secondary concern. However, during these strange times, we need the arts in our lives more than ever!
Art, whether it’s painting, photography, music, sculpture, theater, or dance, serves many important roles during a time of crisis. Art can be an emotional outlet, a form of expression, or a way to connect with our community. As a form of entertainment and an effective way to de-stress, art can even promote better mental and physical health!
It may be more difficult while venues are closed, but there are still plenty of ways that you can create or participate in the arts from home during social distancing. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Art Projects
If you have a Salt Lake County library card, you already have free access to hundreds of hours of arts and crafts classes through creativebug.com! UMOCA is currently leading a series of art projects, and Tracy Aviary will be having a virtual paint-a-long on April 16th. For a fun way to learn about art history, you could also participate in Getty Museum’s challenge to recreate a famous piece of art using only objects from around your own house!
Videos, Movies, and Music
Fill the musical theater void in your life by watching this recent video of Donny Osmond reprising his most iconic role, or these videos of Broadway stars performing Marc Shaiman’s hand-washing hit, “Twenty Seconds.” Perhaps you’ll be inspired to record your own version!
If you have already finished everything in your Netflix queue, expand your horizons with this list of movie recommendations from the Utah Film Center or streaming a movie from the Salt Lake Film Society here. Feeling anxious? Try listening to the soothing sounds of these Utah Symphony recordings.
Classes
If you’re feeling antsy and looking for more ways to be active, Repertory Dance Theater is now offering online dance classes. For some mental stimulation, consider taking a master class on film-making from Sundance Collab. Teenagers can enjoy SpyHop’s online classes that currently include free courses like photo editing, songwriting, or animation.
There are so many activities that you can participate in right now, all from the comfort of your own home! Staying involved helps support the businesses and artists in our community, and is also a great form of self-care.
We look forward to welcoming you back to our venues soon. Until then, please stay home, stay safe, and keep art in your life.
