The Coronart Movement
03/23/20
by Won Kim
As this shit show ramps up, with shortages of toilet paper, gloves, sanitizers, and masks, we seek help from each other in many forms. It seems that every bar and restaurant has set up a GoFundMe or a virtual tip jar site for donations to be split amongst affected employees. The hospitality industry is really coming out in full force during these trying times. Even fine dining establishments like Alinea are making accessible meals to-go, to ease expenses. Acadia gave away inventory for free, Haisous prepared meal kits for anyone in Pilsen, Fat Rice made meal kits, Band of Bohemia made meal kits for their employees, and the list goes on. We can all make a plea to our local government to bail us out, but amidst all of the corruption (selling stocks, delayed action, and general shiftiness), it’ll still be a while until our collective voices are heard.
We depend on peers and loyal customers to get through times like these, however donations and virtual tip jars can only go so far. We have to get creative with our fundraising. I love seeing posts about Jeong turning back to Hanbun for pop-ups, El Ideas going back to selling meatballs, and Maria’s throwing in a roll of TP with the purchase of a beverage kit. People reposting each other’s fundraisers, sharing, caring and donating gives hope and excitement, all while abiding by the recent rules.
I started a small fundraiser for my team at Kimski to paint canvases, and donate all the money made by selling them. We have raised almost $1,500 dollars on our own. Do people need art work during this plague time? Fast answer is no, but the response from people buying my “charity pieces” suggests otherwise. The response has been incredible. We sold over 30 pieces.
This is about survival and helping out my work family, which may sound insular and nepotistic, but we have to make sure our immediate family is good before we can help others. For artists in particular, using every resource you have to help is crucial. We provide a service to entice minds and ears through our selected disciplines. I believe that it is our social responsibility to help out where and when we can.
Art can be seen as a luxury, but when we are all stuck at home, isn’t it nice to be able to listen to music? Watch a show? Read a book? Look at art? Listen to a podcast? Creativeness has always been intertwined with everyday duties and society. The only difference now is that we have all the time in the world to share, create, donate, or help. It takes a crisis of this magnitude to really think outside the box and stay united in helping out our fellow man, woman, person, and child. From live DJ sets, to cooking tutorials and tips, to even just lending an open ear, one thing is for sure—we are doing all of our best to keep connected and productive.
Artwork by Won Kim.
Won Kim is the Quarantine Times Monday editor. Each week, Won Kim selects a Chicagoan to share a commissioned creative response to the pandemic.
Won Kim is a multidisciplinary artist, combining longtime passions into a thriving career that spans more than half of his life. Graffiti art was his first passion, and that sparked an obsession to paint as much as he could, which holds true to this day. After honing his skills as a visual artist, Won moved on to music, holding twenty-year-long residencies at some of the best Chicago bars. While pursuing art and music, Won went to college and then culinary school, after which he worked hard setting up culinary pop ups and craft beer events. This is where all of his passions would collide. Right now, he works with the Marszewski family at Kimski, showcasing how expert DJing, street art, and food can come together and shine. Check out his artwork @revisecmw