London-based printmaker, Emer Hickey, describes herself as one of the “lucky ones” as she not only found what her dream job is, but also managed to grasp hold of and live it. Emer has been working as a scenic artist for theatre for the last five years, and has loved every second of it. When the pandemic hit, and initially thinking she would be sent home for two weeks, Emer revelled in the thought of having a rest and some time to recharge. Yet, when it extended to two months, her hands began to itch for something to do.
“I have lived and breathed art my whole life. I always knew it would be how I would make my living, I did not just work to earn my keep I worked because I loved it. It kept my mind sharp, my creativity levels up and my body strong,” says Emer. So when that was taken from her, and her industry was being left behind and deemed unessential, she turned to an old friend; printmaking.
Emer states; “It has always been a goal of mine to dive back into my printmaking practice and to share my artwork with others, so when I found myself faced with yet another day with nowhere to go, no job, no goal, no purpose, I decided to dust off my linocut tools and take control”. It all started with four simple prints. Four little skeleton workers, two painters, one carpenter, and one welder; “my colleagues and I, working and building the sets when we could not”. The prints posed the harrowing question, is theatre being left to die?
“The support these little guys got was amazing” comments Emer. Soon scenics and theatre makers from not just all over the UK but the States too were buying the prints, and she was receiving lovely messages of support and wishful thoughts for the industry. “The true camaraderie of this industry was blindingly apparent, we are in this together and we will be back! After all, the show must go on!”
“I found my silver lining, this pandemic allowed me to find the time to rekindle my love of lino printing. My practice became my new purpose,” says the printmaker. Emer now not only had a reason to get up in the morning, with orders to be fulfilled and sent out to their new owners, but also had an outlet for all of the stress, anxiety, and fear COVID had thrown at her. She concludes; “I have full faith that my industry is on its way back to us, we are an adaptable bunch us theatre makers and not only have I found an escape for the troubles we are going through right now, I have also cultivated a creative outlet and community that will serve me once this pandemic is over”.
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