{"id":67842,"date":"2020-04-17T10:12:30","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T14:12:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=67842"},"modified":"2020-04-17T10:12:30","modified_gmt":"2020-04-17T14:12:30","slug":"remote-arlen-hlusko-lean-on-your-community-and-your-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2020\/04\/17\/remote-arlen-hlusko-lean-on-your-community-and-your-art\/","title":{"rendered":"REMOTE | Arlen Hlusko: \u2018Lean On Your Community And Your Art\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Cellist
Cellist Arlen Hlusko (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the wake of cancellations related to the pandemic, some performing artists are expanding their online presence. They\u2019re engaging with a portion of their real life audiences, and making new ones along the way. Some have already established a routine around digital concerts, others moving their music lessons online, and some are performing as part of digital ensembles.<\/p>\n

While I\u2019d stop just shy of calling this the new normal<\/em>, it is at least a temporary fix for artists coping with uncertainty by keeping a steady digital output. Some are dishing it out for free, others for profit, and some are lying low and taking care \u2014 kudos to all. The federal government\u2019s recent update to the CERB fund<\/a><\/span> brings a bit of good news for those seeking to maintain something of an income with digital gigs.<\/p>\n

Even without the official designation, the work these artists do is essential, especially so at this moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all need beauty and love right now more than ever,\u201d says Canadian cellist Arlen Hlusko. Based in New York but joining us from her quarantine spot in Ontario, the internationally celebrated cellist has increased her online presence with digital recitals and charity concerts. Her Instagram account (@celloarlen) is a busy place, and she\u2019s kept up her teaching through Carnegie Hall\u2019s resident ensemble. As she writes in the interview below, her current level of activity only came after, and as a response to, the pang of helplessness we all felt at the start of this.<\/p>\n

How are you doing during this pandemic?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m doing okay, thank you! I have better days and worse days, but I do my best to focus on the positive in every day. I feel heartbroken and helpless for everyone suffering and losing loved ones in this time, and of course this is taking a significant toll on all of us economically, socially, etc, even if our loved ones are healthy, but I am counting my blessings to be at home, keeping busy, and spending cherished time with my family (which has been always-too-rare for me since I moved away from home at 14). This is the longest stretch I\u2019ve gone without travelling and performing in several years, and the longest stretch I\u2019ve been home in Canada in over a decade, and I\u2019m enjoying it (so far ;)).<\/p>\n

What are some of the ways you are keeping busy artistically?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When the quarantine first began, I spent a few days feeling helpless. I thought to myself, I should have gone into a different profession. I should be out there helping people more directly. That quickly turned into reflecting on the many reasons why I went into music, and why I believe that the arts are inherently meaningful, and necessary to our humanity \u2014 in a time of crisis more than ever.<\/p>\n

I was playing a lot at the start of \u2014 not necessarily practising, but just playing for music\u2019s sake. It was soothing me, comforting me; helping me figure out how to cope. My first idea from there was to start posting videos every day to Instagram, in an effort to feel like I was offering something, anything, positive to the world in this time. I\u2019m still posting clips every day, and doing some livestream performances as well \u2014 I gave a full recital<\/a><\/span> for an organization through Facebook Live last weekend, and had a lot of positive feedback about how the concert experience afforded people hope, joy, comfort, etc, so I\u2019ve decided to launch a weekly live concert series on my own Facebook beginning this Saturday and ideally to continue every Saturday that we remain in quarantine. Could be a long time so I\u2019d better compile some more solo cello repertoire\u2026!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also extremely fortunate to have work that\u2019s still ongoing. In one of my ensembles, Carnegie Hall\u2019s Ensemble Connect<\/a><\/span>, we are working hard together to figure out how to move as much of our work as possible online. We\u2019ve started several video initiatives through our social media, and one part of our work is co-teaching in NYC Public Schools, so I\u2019m grateful to be able to continue teaching & performing for my elementary school students through Zoom every week. They really inspire me and fill me with joy. I\u2019m also working on remote collaborations with colleagues from Bang on a Can<\/a><\/span> and Dolce Suono<\/a><\/span>, and I\u2019m extremely grateful to be able to create content for the community I work with at Sing Sing Correctional Facility, through Musical Connections at Carnegie Hall. They\u2019ve made it possible for us to send in music, documents, and instructional videos to support our men through this incredibly isolating and difficult time.<\/p>\n

Somehow, it still feels like there\u2019s never enough time in the day! And I know it\u2019s an incredible blessing to feel that way right now; I certainly don\u2019t take it for granted.<\/p>\n

Any books, films, or TV on the go?<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m currently working my way through The Lost Children Archive<\/em><\/a><\/span> by Valeria Luiselli, Scarcity<\/em><\/a><\/span> by Sendhil Mullainathan and Eldar Shafir, and The New Jim Crow<\/em><\/a><\/span> by Michelle Alexander. My parents and I are also working our way through The Wire<\/em> \u2014 an episode per night \u2014 which I\u2019ve been meaning to do for years and am grateful to finally have the time!<\/p>\n

Any words of wisdom to get through this?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lean on your community and your art. We all need beauty and love right now more than ever \u2014 don\u2019t be afraid to ask for\/take what you need, and give generously to others.<\/p>\n

What do you think are some of the ways arts communities can better prepare for adjusting to a crisis such as this?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I think everyone is doing the best they can, all things considered! We are all eagerly and creatively learning\/navigating the best ways to continue sharing our art and connecting with others through the internet, and I find it incredibly inspiring how generous so many individuals and organizations are being with their talents right now. I probably watch at least five livestreams a week, and find myself constantly marvelling at how amazing it is that I can experience such sincere and moving art in the comfort of my living room (and in my pajamas\u2026). I am excited to see how artists and organizations will continue to evolve and create for the duration of this quarantine, and look forward to continuing to pursue beauty and connection through music in a virtual existence myself.<\/p>\n

I also think there is an incredible amount of suffering and devastation in arts communities right now \u2014 individuals and organizations adjusting to a world without live performance as we know and love it, and suffering massive financial losses\u2026 but I am hopeful that this will help stimulate conversation surrounding how significant and crucial the arts are to all of us, and how we as a society can better support them and help them thrive. Everyone I know is leaning on music, literature, cinema \u2014 various forms of art, to help them cope and get through their days, so clearly these are fields worthy of our investments and support.<\/p>\n

For more chats with artists in social isolation, read on\u00a0HERE<\/a><\/span>.<\/h2>\n

#LUDWIGVAN<\/em><\/h3>\n

Want more updates on classical music and opera news and reviews? Follow us\u00a0on <\/em>Facebook<\/b><\/a><\/em><\/span>, <\/em>Instagram<\/b><\/a><\/em><\/span> <\/b>or <\/em>Twitter<\/b><\/a><\/em><\/span> for all the latest.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cellist Arlen Hlusko talks about keeping active as an artist and staying in touch with community during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":89,"featured_media":67847,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[33451,9,35839,29,36052,63],"tags":[36154,453,35697],"yst_prominent_words":[36157,7765,36152,36146,36145,36144,36151,36156,36155,8507,36148,36153,36150,36147,6616,36149,14368,7558,10395,9960],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/04\/Arlen-Hlusko-REMOTE-feature.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-hEe","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67842"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/89"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67842"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67849,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67842\/revisions\/67849"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67847"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67842"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=67842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}