For artists who make their living selling their work at festivals, COVID-19 has been challenging.
Art on Main Street in La Quinta’s Old Town normally has eight outdoor shows per year, featuring 100 local and Southern California artists each season.
“With COVID, we’ve had to alter our schedules, just like everybody else,” event director Shelly Glickstein said.
The November shows were canceled as was the Jan. 9 show.
There are still shows scheduled for Feb. 6 and Feb. 20, March 13 and March 27, and April 10.
“All of the other art shows in the Valley have been canceled,” Glickstein said. “Art on Main Street is the only access and way of support at least for some local artists that there is this season.”
Old Town is quaint and charming with outdoor patios and beautiful architecture, Glickstein said.
“The art shows are very unique and picturesque,” she said.
In November in response to the canceled shows, organizers opened a retail gallery called Art on Main Street Old Town Gallery, which will be open Thursdays through Sundays through the winter season. Several local artists including Leslie Adams, a watercolor artist, are painting at the gallery on Thursdays.
“That is something that we were very fortunate to be able to do for artists,” Glickstein said. “Old Town gave us the space. The City of La Quinta is still sponsoring the shows and the gallery this year. We’re trying to be fluid and do a combination of whatever works this season.”
The gallery is only 1,000 square feet and can’t accommodate a lot of artists. But some artists rely on the shows to make their livings and are grateful for the help.
“In terms of local artists, it’s making a difference to some people,” Glickstein said.
Art on Main Street has received approval from the county for the shows in February, March and April, but it all depends on what happens with the virus, Glickstein said.
“That’s the reason we went ahead and opened the gallery because it was something we could offer that is definite and helpful,” she said.
The outdoor shows will be limited this season to 50-60 artists, with tents spaced farther apart for social distancing.
“We’ll be taking artists’ temperatures in the mornings,” Glickstein said. “We’re taking extra safety measures just to make it easier to have a safer environment.”
