corona issues from the netherlands

Theo Huijgens, Art Blaakhouse & Werklicht Rotterdam
with Ida Broekhart, visual artist & blogger

Dear Morelle, the first of March was the opening of my solo exhibition in Rotterdam. 'Mixed Media & Textiles with a nod to sustainability'.
We all knew about the coronavirus which was doing its devastating work in the south of the Netherlands, only one hour driving away. The part down the big rivers and the part of the riotous celebration of carnival. Hospitals were overcrowded there with people dying of the virus. It was all over the news but everybody was happily shaking hands at my showcase venue. A week later there was more awareness of the threat, because of the COVID-19 situation the nursing homes were in, but yet International Women's Day was celebrated at the busy Artspace of Huis der Zotheid. The gallery owner, a cultural entrepreneur with contacts abroad, also worked with Italian artists. And it was already common knowledge that Italy was the source of the virus spread in Europe.
Mid-March our president announced a lockdown. Only supermarkets and hospitals were open, but cultural platforms, shops, schools and other public places had to close their doors. The violent virus had reached Rotterdam.

Just as in slaughterhouses, there were many daily deaths in hospitals. Medical Centre Erasmus Rotterdam became the coördinating hotspot of the Netherlands. It became clear to me that my behavior had been reckless. I was in a bit of a shock and stayed at home for a few weeks. Fortunately there were beehotels, plants and organic herbs on my ten-meter balcony. Communication, shopping, birthdays and my yogaclass went through google hangout, facetime and other digital possibilities. The care for my immune system became top priority.
To my surprise I could cope with this new situation. It created an opportunity to slow down and fully embrace the flow of creativity. After a while I went walking with a friend. Of course at the recommended distance. But it was dificult to find a quiet forest, beach or park in the environment. Rotterdam Randstad, a polycentric concentration, has probably been the busiest part of our country to date. Many people desperatedly wanted to have a walk in the spring sunhine. The longing for the beautiful peaceful hills of Scotland had never been stronger.
The first of May museums and galleries were still in lockdown. But my gallery owner had to earn a living and organized a show with Rotterdam artists. Tickets were available on the internet for timeslot visits by appointment only.
The first of June the situation returned to 'normal' and cultural platforms were allowed to open their doors again. Many businesses had financial problems and our government promised to help out with subsidies but how much was still unknown.
My daughter, general manager of contrary & nomadic arts platform Roodkapje Rotterdam, opened with a cultural springsupermarket. People could buy art from young awarded artists worth 1 to 10.000 euro. The Burgertrut restaurant with organic (vega-) hamburgers, which suports Roodkapje-Art, became a takeout. It was a successful kickoff.

Just like yours, our society has been changing. Artists and businesses needed even more develop an out-of-the-box way of problem solving to survive. The call for sustainability and better treatment of animals became stronger. Raising  more awareness of our planet's vulnerability depended on our political choice. More people started understanding that they are all interrelated.

Take care dear Morelle and stay healthy. Lots of love from the Netherlands, June 2020
Ida Broekhart Blog & Ida Broekhart FB