SVACE: How has the COVID-19 crisis affected your artmaking? As an artist and educator, what are you learning during this unprecedented time? How are you coping?

DS: The initial impact of COVID-19 was the same for me as for all other artists with the canceling of installations, commissions, etc. However, things changed for me once I was afflicted with the virus. I was fortunate to be in a place where I had all I needed to take care of myself, and thus fight back to a place of wellness. As a Black woman living in America, in my beloved Harlem community, I am acutely aware of the disparities in our healthcare system. I do not believe COVID-19 is the "great equalizer." Black and brown people are dying at an alarming rate because of policies/systems that were in place long before this virus. I'd caution us from outlining underlying conditions as the root cause, as it indirectly places blame on the marginalized and disenfranchised. When that happens, there's little action taken going forward to rectify or make a change to meet the needs of those who are underserved in particular communities.

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Artist Dianne Smith makes new art with used materials