April 2020 Gesso’s many friends and clients have been severely impacted by the necessary Covid-19 prevention measures. We reached out to some of them for their comments about that impact. Here are some of their responses. Bennie Parr - Bennie’s Pizza Pub: As a newer business owner of only 22 months, the uncertainty of how everything will bounce back is very unsettling. But I am not a person to give up easily, and our community is not either... the out pouring of support has been incredible, people going out of their way to support us and the amount of people offering helping hands has been very heart warming. The downtown Belleville businesses work very well together; we are in constant contact sharing ideas and ways to get through this. We are hopeful that our government will come through with guidance and support to help the small businesses that employ so many in our community until then we will continue to work together to get through these hard times. 214 West Main Street, Belleville IL
Dave Schoenborn - Lincoln Theatre: Having been one of the first business sectors affected, I do believe it was the right thing to close. We must distance ourselves and avoid socialize in person at this time. Having said that, we will have no income for a couple of months yet bills will keep coming from utilities, etc. Here is an example: just had a friend tell me that his cable company would not let them pause their cable service at the business but keep their phone and internet up. No one is there to watch the TV at the bar and that is half their bill.
Jacque Davis - Textile Artist: I am grateful my studio is at home; that being said, it has been harder to start a new idea; too many distracting thoughts. Everybody is home so there are a lot more interruptions. I have been cleaning my studio, hand-sewing baby booties for the Mourning Project. Cooking and baking a lot! Like me, many of my artist friends have exhibits hanging with no audience... we are sharing pictures in our on line groups. Of course, this is not a buyers market, but I have seen some art trades happening. The impact of no audiences is very difficult for working artists since we do the work up front and have already spent time and money on the materials. No audience less potential for sales. Knowing my artist and musician friends are not able to earn a living troubles me greatly. Stress has always impacted my creativity. Currently, I just feel a creative stuckness. I am beginning to get glimpses of ideas here and there so I know I won’t be stuck for long. The colors I use in my work may not be so bright for a while but my dreams are providing lots of material. I am trying to stay positive, share good thoughts with others and listen to music!! Meditation to ease fears and then there is wine and board games with Brad. Facebook.com/JacqueDavisTextileArts
Biggest thing is loans. We, like others, already have business loans. Relief loans just add to our debt and when we open back, it may take months to get back to normal so making payments and just in general hardship is likely to carry on well past the time we start to allow gatherings again. 103 East Main Street, Belleville IL 8
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