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Friday, March 27, 2020
Ballet Company Costume Departments Jump Into Action, Sewing Masks for Coronavirus Aid
Pointe: The novel coronavirus pandemic has forced ballet companies worldwide to cancel or postpone their seasons. But it's not just dancers and artistic staff that have found their work at a standstill. Costume departments, a vital component in bringing performances to life, have also hit pause.
One of the most disheartening things is to hear about how performing arts has screeched to a halt in response to the global pandemic. Conversely, some of the most uplifting and inspiring stories that come out of this situation is the pivoting of industries that seemingly have nothing to do with healthcare to pitch in with the efforts to contain the virus. Hearing about artists using their practical abilities and knowledge to contribute to their communities in new and effective ways. I thought the efforts by Sturdevant and his team to create a goal of 300 masks per week is extremely commendable. Hearing about their viewpoint of feeling lucky to be able to make this contribution instead of being scared is something I really appreciated and felt inspired by. I am very curious to know how this lack of supply will affect preparation for the future. Needing a bunch of N95 respirators has probably never been an issue until now.
I love seeing people coming together to make an impact in work forces that are different from their own. The costume shop of a ballet company does not work in direct contact with COVID-19 patients, yet they are devoting their time to help. They are not unique in this call to action; I have heard a plethora of stories about people who are using their lack of work to sew masks. It’s also cool how some people are getting paid to make these masks, which boosts employment in the current downfall of our economy. My mom is a nurse, and we have been trying to come up with a design that mimics N95 masks, but materials are either unobtainable or extremely pricy. I have a sewing pattern for these masks, and until I figure out how to make more durable personal protection equipment, I will sew fabric ones to help.
It is great to see different communities jump to help medical professionals right now. Sewing masks is a productive and creative solution to our enormous demand for surgical masks. This reminds me of our production planning class on Wednesday, where a TD alum was invited to come to speak to our class. She graduated from our TD program but went to nursing and is now a nurse. We briefly had a discussion about the safeness and effectiveness of these hand-sewn masks. Because they are hand-sewn and not professionally manufactured, the masks are not sterile. So does that mean the masks do nothing? But the alum said it really doesn’t matter at this point. Hospitals are not 100% sterile from coronavirus anyway. The protection of any form will help right now. It’s great that not only in ballet companies, theater companies that have costumes departments are also jumping to help sew masks. People are definitely working together for each other and we need this unity in this crisis.
I want to commend not only the Tulsa Ballet costume staff, but other costume staff and organizations who I know are making similar efforts. I think during a pandemic like this people feel out of control, and when the way they can help most is stay home they feel very confused about what to do. The Tulsa Ballet costume staff are making these masks because that is the way they can contribute to helping in this crisis. I have seen some patterns for masks floating around the internet encouraging people that if they can, they can contribute to free up some of the medical masks for medical staff. This also seems like a good way to spend their time, because production has temporarily halted, this is still a productive way for them to get their hands busy and work in the shop. Dependent on resources available, I hope we continue to see support from other like organizations.
This is so awesome! The fact that right now hospitals are struggling to have the supplies that they need is incredibly distressing to hear, but this initiative put in place by Tusla gives me hope. In a time which could have resulted in a huge amount of sadness and disappointment, as this company and many others had to cancel shows that were set to open in the spring, Tulsa took an opportunity to help the greater community with the skills that they have available to them. I also think that it is so cool that this has also turned into a community initiative, with several members of their community doing their part to donate cotton fabric and other helpful materials. This further proves that as artists, when we see a calling or a need for help there is no hesitation to jump in and contribute our skills to do what is needed!
Although it is really disheartening to continue to hear about all of these performing arts companies postponing and cancelling shows and seasons, it is a nice light in the darkness to see how they are converting their spaces and resources to help provide aid during this crisis. Masks and the lack thereof has certainly been a frightening and frequent topic right now. It is devastating to hear of medical professionals being told to use bananas as PPE, and even more devastating that the government has done so little to relieve this lack of supplies. However, in times of struggle and times of need, the arts are always there to provide solace, even if that is through directly producing necessary PPE rather than creating and presenting art as a form of catharsis for their audiences and themselves. In this time of great unknowns, every action that contributes to relieving this process feels like a great success.
This is very interesting and inspiring. In my production planning class, we just had a guest, a Carnegie Mellon technical direction alum-turned-medical professional, talk to us about communities' responses to the coronavirus. She mentioned how her community is working to make 3D printers more accessible to make the structure of face shields, and using laminate plastic film for the actual face shield. These are then donated to medical workers and others who need it. Even though this whole coronavirus situation is tough and trying, there are still people out there who are eager to help, prone to altruism as humans tend to be. A lot of it also seems to be coming from the performing arts community, which has come to an abrupt halt because of this pandemic. I am glad to see us repurposing our available resources for a greater cause and I am proud to be a person in this industry.
I think it is incredible that these shops are turning around, completely changing up their normal procedure, and doing something to help the medical professionals who are currently busting their asses to, in essence, save the world. That being said, and important note to make that was briefly touched on in this article is that these masks are not substitutes for proper N95 or equivalent masks. I know that there are many people who are completely and utterly oblivious to this fact and believe that wearing this mask makes them invincible to the coronavirus and thus think it is okay to break quarantine and social distancing practices. Regardless, it is nice to see that these professional costumers are using their skills to make these face masks for the people saving the world. My mother has been sewing for a number of years and has recently been into quilting. Now, she is spending her time sewing masks to donate to local hospitals. She made a bunch for my brother, who is a veterinarian. She gave a bunch to my father, who is a surgeon. She has been making masks to keep herself occupied while we really don’t have anything else to do, just like the costumers for the ballet.
Things like this are so heartwarming to see. Places like Joanns are giving out free mask making kits and communities are making masks need spreadsheets to distribute masks to those who need them. There are many different plans on the internet so I wonder which ones are most helpful to those who need them. One great thing about these masks is that they are reusable unlike most of the other PPE used during this time. Is there a way to make a reusable N95? What makes it non-reusable. Is there a way to manufacture an N95 particulate mask with replaceable, easily manufacturable parts? Things like this also help provide something to do to be productive. I just wish making ventilators was as easy. I wonder if the government would ever require costume shops and similar to make masks, as some hope they will do with respirators in order to address the dire need. I wonder if the Carnegie Mellon shop has any N95 masks laying around in the shop. I also wonder if every scene shop in the country has 20-30 new masks laying around if there is a way to redirect those supplies to those in need.
I also heard that the leading fashion brands like Prada and Louis Vuitton are also manufacturing surgical face masks. Theatres, designer clothes, cosmetics… luxury goods are the first things to get cut out of people’s lives in extraordinary times. Apart from the financial difficulties they face, this could also mean that those industries can be the first ones to help the medical field and other essential industries. Theatre is like a microcosm of society. There are people with a variety of different skill sets. I believe there is always a part that theatre people can take as long as there is a community, and I really support this ballet company’s action. One thing I am afraid is that the costume shops are often poorly ventilated and dry, and people work close to each other when they are working on the same project. I highly encourage the workers to also wear the masks!
10 comments:
One of the most disheartening things is to hear about how performing arts has screeched to a halt in response to the global pandemic. Conversely, some of the most uplifting and inspiring stories that come out of this situation is the pivoting of industries that seemingly have nothing to do with healthcare to pitch in with the efforts to contain the virus. Hearing about artists using their practical abilities and knowledge to contribute to their communities in new and effective ways. I thought the efforts by Sturdevant and his team to create a goal of 300 masks per week is extremely commendable. Hearing about their viewpoint of feeling lucky to be able to make this contribution instead of being scared is something I really appreciated and felt inspired by. I am very curious to know how this lack of supply will affect preparation for the future. Needing a bunch of N95 respirators has probably never been an issue until now.
I love seeing people coming together to make an impact in work forces that are different from their own. The costume shop of a ballet company does not work in direct contact with COVID-19 patients, yet they are devoting their time to help. They are not unique in this call to action; I have heard a plethora of stories about people who are using their lack of work to sew masks. It’s also cool how some people are getting paid to make these masks, which boosts employment in the current downfall of our economy. My mom is a nurse, and we have been trying to come up with a design that mimics N95 masks, but materials are either unobtainable or extremely pricy. I have a sewing pattern for these masks, and until I figure out how to make more durable personal protection equipment, I will sew fabric ones to help.
It is great to see different communities jump to help medical professionals right now. Sewing masks is a productive and creative solution to our enormous demand for surgical masks. This reminds me of our production planning class on Wednesday, where a TD alum was invited to come to speak to our class. She graduated from our TD program but went to nursing and is now a nurse. We briefly had a discussion about the safeness and effectiveness of these hand-sewn masks. Because they are hand-sewn and not professionally manufactured, the masks are not sterile. So does that mean the masks do nothing? But the alum said it really doesn’t matter at this point. Hospitals are not 100% sterile from coronavirus anyway. The protection of any form will help right now. It’s great that not only in ballet companies, theater companies that have costumes departments are also jumping to help sew masks. People are definitely working together for each other and we need this unity in this crisis.
I want to commend not only the Tulsa Ballet costume staff, but other costume staff and organizations who I know are making similar efforts. I think during a pandemic like this people feel out of control, and when the way they can help most is stay home they feel very confused about what to do. The Tulsa Ballet costume staff are making these masks because that is the way they can contribute to helping in this crisis. I have seen some patterns for masks floating around the internet encouraging people that if they can, they can contribute to free up some of the medical masks for medical staff. This also seems like a good way to spend their time, because production has temporarily halted, this is still a productive way for them to get their hands busy and work in the shop. Dependent on resources available, I hope we continue to see support from other like organizations.
This is so awesome! The fact that right now hospitals are struggling to have the supplies that they need is incredibly distressing to hear, but this initiative put in place by Tusla gives me hope. In a time which could have resulted in a huge amount of sadness and disappointment, as this company and many others had to cancel shows that were set to open in the spring, Tulsa took an opportunity to help the greater community with the skills that they have available to them. I also think that it is so cool that this has also turned into a community initiative, with several members of their community doing their part to donate cotton fabric and other helpful materials. This further proves that as artists, when we see a calling or a need for help there is no hesitation to jump in and contribute our skills to do what is needed!
Although it is really disheartening to continue to hear about all of these performing arts companies postponing and cancelling shows and seasons, it is a nice light in the darkness to see how they are converting their spaces and resources to help provide aid during this crisis. Masks and the lack thereof has certainly been a frightening and frequent topic right now. It is devastating to hear of medical professionals being told to use bananas as PPE, and even more devastating that the government has done so little to relieve this lack of supplies. However, in times of struggle and times of need, the arts are always there to provide solace, even if that is through directly producing necessary PPE rather than creating and presenting art as a form of catharsis for their audiences and themselves. In this time of great unknowns, every action that contributes to relieving this process feels like a great success.
This is very interesting and inspiring. In my production planning class, we just had a guest, a Carnegie Mellon technical direction alum-turned-medical professional, talk to us about communities' responses to the coronavirus. She mentioned how her community is working to make 3D printers more accessible to make the structure of face shields, and using laminate plastic film for the actual face shield. These are then donated to medical workers and others who need it. Even though this whole coronavirus situation is tough and trying, there are still people out there who are eager to help, prone to altruism as humans tend to be. A lot of it also seems to be coming from the performing arts community, which has come to an abrupt halt because of this pandemic. I am glad to see us repurposing our available resources for a greater cause and I am proud to be a person in this industry.
I think it is incredible that these shops are turning around, completely changing up their normal procedure, and doing something to help the medical professionals who are currently busting their asses to, in essence, save the world. That being said, and important note to make that was briefly touched on in this article is that these masks are not substitutes for proper N95 or equivalent masks. I know that there are many people who are completely and utterly oblivious to this fact and believe that wearing this mask makes them invincible to the coronavirus and thus think it is okay to break quarantine and social distancing practices. Regardless, it is nice to see that these professional costumers are using their skills to make these face masks for the people saving the world. My mother has been sewing for a number of years and has recently been into quilting. Now, she is spending her time sewing masks to donate to local hospitals. She made a bunch for my brother, who is a veterinarian. She gave a bunch to my father, who is a surgeon. She has been making masks to keep herself occupied while we really don’t have anything else to do, just like the costumers for the ballet.
Things like this are so heartwarming to see. Places like Joanns are giving out free mask making kits and communities are making masks need spreadsheets to distribute masks to those who need them. There are many different plans on the internet so I wonder which ones are most helpful to those who need them. One great thing about these masks is that they are reusable unlike most of the other PPE used during this time. Is there a way to make a reusable N95? What makes it non-reusable. Is there a way to manufacture an N95 particulate mask with replaceable, easily manufacturable parts? Things like this also help provide something to do to be productive. I just wish making ventilators was as easy. I wonder if the government would ever require costume shops and similar to make masks, as some hope they will do with respirators in order to address the dire need. I wonder if the Carnegie Mellon shop has any N95 masks laying around in the shop. I also wonder if every scene shop in the country has 20-30 new masks laying around if there is a way to redirect those supplies to those in need.
I also heard that the leading fashion brands like Prada and Louis Vuitton are also manufacturing surgical face masks. Theatres, designer clothes, cosmetics… luxury goods are the first things to get cut out of people’s lives in extraordinary times. Apart from the financial difficulties they face, this could also mean that those industries can be the first ones to help the medical field and other essential industries. Theatre is like a microcosm of society. There are people with a variety of different skill sets. I believe there is always a part that theatre people can take as long as there is a community, and I really support this ballet company’s action. One thing I am afraid is that the costume shops are often poorly ventilated and dry, and people work close to each other when they are working on the same project. I highly encourage the workers to also wear the masks!
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