Page 41 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2021

memory, and suddenly my hidden talent for art came to life. I As the pandemic settled into our new reality, musicians
started painting my internal ideas, which I believe turned into started grasping for some way to create and share their
therapy for grief and isolation. When I wasn’t painting, I sat music – giving themselves both purpose and much-needed
down at the piano and taught myself how to play. Although social connection with their peers and fans. Through sites
I have a long way to go before I can play a concert, I enjoy like YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, many artists began
the challenge.” to stream individual live shows, often facing a steep learning
Blues-rock-soul singer/songwriter Dana Fuchs also faced the curve regarding the technology involved.
harshness of pandemic realities by pivoting in order to move Blues guitarist/singer Paul Filipowicz told us, “Over the
forward. In her blog she shares, “I went back to school with a last 47 years as a performing musician, COVID-19 is not the
full scholarship to finish my undergraduate degree and went on first obstacle I have had to overcome.” During the pandemic,
to enroll in graduate school for a master’s degree in Applied he’s adapted once again by putting on shows every Friday
Theatre. I reacquainted myself with my love of theatre and through Facebook Live with the help of his son, earning tips
began to read play after play; dramas, musicals, comedies, from fans via PayPal. He puts in the time to impress his fans,
all of it. This inspired me to finally write an idea I’ve had for a rock dressed in his signature dapper style as if on a real stage,
musical!... I have also dabbled with giving private [vocal and saying, “I get the satisfaction of playing, and I feel like my
performance] lessons at home… Now that the world is opening music helps people because it makes them feel better. Blues
back up, I’ve started to see regular students and I have to say, I is my calling in life and how I serve others. I am supposed to
never dreamed how much I would love doing this!” be doing this.” Not even a pandemic could stop him!

During the pandemic, Victor Wainwright built a full multimedia studio in his garage to produce a live stream social media variety show. Photo courtesy of Victor Wainwright

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