This year the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every person in the country, but in many different ways. One community that has always thrived on the exchanging of ideas and in-person interactions is the artist community. That conduit has been affected by the pandemic, but not in ways one might think. Ark Valley Voice spoke with one local artist who explained how the pandemic has impacted her and what she has done to continue making as well as selling her art.
Image courtesy of
apogeeartstudio.com
Fay Golson graduated from the School of Architecture at Auburn University with a degree in Interior Design. She worked as a commercial and professional interior designer for 30 years. During her career she was always active with her own art and since her retirement spends her time in Apogee Studio in Salida. Golson’s artistic experience is deep. She has had work shown at the Yellowstone Art Museum, The New Vanguard-Exhibit at Keep Contemporary Gallery in Santa Fe and Gilpin County Art Gallery in Central City among others. Read more here.
Golson works with mixed media and describes her art as “non objective and maybe some leaning towards impressionism as well.” Recently she has been working on larger pieces.
Golson explained “along with many other artists I’m searching for how we’re going to market nowadays since things are so different. The galleries are suffering, at least the ones I’m aware of and they were suffering before COVID hit us. I think they will always be with us; I think there are enough art consultants and collectors out there that are going to support galleries, but it seems to me that the internet now is the way to show off what you’re doing. So that’s what I’m busy doing right now and I’m trying to make this transition. I am trying everything.”
When asked about the survival of artists Golson said “I would like to see us be more adventurous. You need to market your work and it doesn’t feel great right now. Otherwise you’re going to wither away, and no one is going to notice. It requires some aggressive moves.”
Golson went on, “encouraging each other as artists I think is necessary because it gets pretty boring and depressing if you’re sitting here alone. We’re all in the same boat and we just have to help each other along.”
“You have to be passionate about it to get out there and keep pushing. I don’t care what age you are,” Golson continued “Art is not a hobby for me per se, I have to market things and sell things in order to have validation as an artist. I don’t want to sit in my studio and paint and have them stack up. I want them out for people to enjoy, so that’s what I’m heading toward I hope.”
Golson has created a new website for her art along with a Facebook and Instagram page. She is also on Etsy as she wants to try as much as possible to figure out what works best for her. Along with this, she is still entering shows.
Featured image: Fay Golson, Salida artist. Image courtesy of apogeeartstudio.com
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