I have held most of my Crealde Urban Sketching classes outdoors to help protect my students from possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus. We had one close call where a student who was waiting for the class to start tested positive for COVID. I had to miss a class when a house guest brought home the virus, having caught it at a summer camp. Miraculously through isolation and diligent wearing of masks at home both Pam and I avoided exposure.
Anyway, at Crealde we explore the Crealde campus with our sketchbooks. I sketch along with the students and I have never run out of interesting angles to draw. The sketches I do here are probably the best documentary sketches I have done of what it is like to responsibly live with the virus.
On Jun 19, 2020 Crealdé School of Art Covid-19 Safety Measures were as follows:
1. We are reducing the maximum number of students in our classes to 6 – 8 students
depending on classroom size and medium.
2. We are re configuring our studio spaces and work tables to allow for 6 feet social
distance. Classroom floors will be clearly marked in a way that student traffic and
pathways utilized will not impede or intrude upon the six-foot or more social
distancing.
3. Galleries and exhibition spaces will be limited to 10 visitors at a time adhering to the
six foot social distancing guideline.
4. On a daily basis, Crealdé and Heritage Center staff are cleaning bathrooms and
disinfecting doors, handles and classroom surfaces.
5. We promote frequent and thorough hand washing by faculty, staff, students and
visitors.
6. We continue to ask that any staff, faculty, students or visitors who are coughing,
sneezing or in general not feeling well, to please stay at home, and to continue to
follow the directions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or a
health professional. Anyone demonstrating health issues will be asked to leave.
7. Students are encouraged to use their personal work/art tools and equipment when
possible. For youth classes, separate individual “baggies” will be provided for each
student’s class supplies.
8. We are instituting regular/enhanced instructor housekeeping and
maintenance/janitorial practices, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of
surfaces, equipment, and other elements of the school environment after each class
is dismissed.
9. Until further notice, we strongly encourage the wearing of masks in classrooms and
exhibition spaces for students and visitors. All of our instructors will be wearing
masks in class. We have extended our mandatory mask wearing policy for at least through the winter session.