DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARTS ORGANIZERS RALLY TO PROVIDE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF
Washington, D.C. -- In an effort to uplift the local arts ecosystem amid strenuous times, Absurdly Well, in collaboration with InTheRough and The Washington Informer Bridge, presents “Bid to Fight COVID,” a virtual art auction featuring select works from the District’s burgeoning artists. The event will take place on Friday, May 29th from 7-10 pm, est via Instagram Live.
The unprecedented number of closures, layoffs, and furloughs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has left communities worldwide overwhelmed by the lack of resources to support some of their most primary needs. Food supplies and living arrangements are threatened by mass stagnation, as people struggle to find employment, let alone assistance to afford essential goods.
Full-time artists and artists working part-time gigs to support their practice, as well, find themselves in similar positions, with museums, galleries, and studios shuttering to mitigate the viral spread. Compounded by the sad reality that grants, commissioned projects, and funding initiatives have slowed or halted altogether, creatives are looking for enablement to support their vocation, their wellbeing, and their loved ones.
“Before the pandemic, I worked three different jobs to be able to afford equipment and materials I required for my art,” says Aida Ebrahimi, a multidisciplinary artist participating in Bid to Fight COVID. “I used the little free time and energy left in me to create, however, the pandemic has reversed this cycle; I don't have the financial security, yet I have a lot of free time. Finding a new balance and routine has put a pause on my creativity. The urgency to survive our collective trauma has shifted the focus and energy of many artists to surviving rather than creating, yet there are those who continuously remind us to support each other and provide the compassion we always needed.”
Historically, art has played a pivotal role in improving the public welfare during adverse periods. The Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project employed hundreds of painters and muralists to enrich civic buildings through the doldrums of the Great Depression. And in the throes of World War II, facing calls to reduce Great Britain’s arts budget, then Prime Minister Winston Churchill defended such funding, asking rhetorically, “Then what are we fighting for?” Artistic endeavors are noble pursuits. Artists capture the beauty, satire, hardship, and trauma of life in ways that allow observers to appreciate its fragility and cope with its obstacles.
In 2020, when quotidian life has been turned upside down, we need restorative power, and we must remain optimistic. The COVID-19 relief virtual art auction will aid artists in need of assistance and help subsidize the broader D.C. community. Patronage of visual artists will not only buoy practices during the tumult, but a portion of these proceeds will also be donated to Martha’s Table. For 40 years, this Washington, D.C.-based non-profit has been an access point for healthy food, quality education, and family resources in the same communities that have cultivated the city’s strong arts heritage. Their commitment to protecting the health and safety of District residents has never been more critical, doubling down on programming efforts during this crisis. We elect them as trusted recipients.
Prospective bidders will be able to tender for artworks via the comment section of the @bid2fightcovid Instagram Live, only after registering through the Eventbrite portal.
To learn more about the artists involved in the auction as well as a preview of works, please refer to the auction book above.
###