What can you offer? What do you need?
Study of Arms for "The Cadence of Autumn," Evelyn De Morgan, 1905
What a month it’s been, for all of us. Here at Xerophile, we’ve closed up our physical studio for a yet-to-be-determined amount of time and have delayed and/or cancelled shoots. We’re washing our hands a lot, staying home and doing what we can to adjust to this new reality.
To be honest, we’re reeling. We fear that things will get worse before they get better. We’re scared for the lives of those who are sick and those on the medical frontlines. Our hearts are breaking for the arts, the service industry and the small businesses that may not survive this.
We’re also grieving as we loosen our grip on our vision of how 2020 would go. We invested in new camera equipment and lined up some great projects, but for now, and for good reason, things are on hold. As the prospect of a recession looms, we worry about what that means for us as a small business with less than a year under our belt.
These last couple of weeks have been an unflinching reminder of not only how vulnerable we are, but also how connected we all are. I am reminded every day that our survival depends on our ability to take care of each other, to collaborate and co-create. I am also reminded of how naturally we come together in crisis, how we don’t just ‘fall apart’ but ‘fall together’ (for more on this, I highly recommend this conversation with the brilliant Rebecca Solnit).
Last year, Steph and I took a business planning class for artists. At one session, our facilitator led us through a resources exercise. We went around the room, and each person shared two things: something they could teach and something they wanted to learn. At the end of the exercise, it was clear that as a group we had far more capacity, expertise and opportunity than we realized.
This feels like a moment for some version of the teach/learn exercise. We are all in this boat, and we’re all being tossed around by some pretty formidable seas. How can we help each other? How can we build resilience?
Here’s what Steph and I can teach/offer: field research/interviewing, multimedia storytelling, writing, video production, live streaming and, always, book recommendations (I have a dream of one day becoming a bibliotherapist). Maybe we can help you figure out how to connect to your audience in these strange times, how best to pivot or how to use video effectively in an era of social distancing. Or maybe it’s something else entirely. We’d be happy to offer a free consultation, hear what you need and talk through this moment with you.
As for what we’d like to learn, there are so, so many things, but among the industries we’d like to learn more about are online education and health communications. We’d also like to hear your tips on striking a balance between reacting to the present and investing in the future. I, personally, have also always had a secret dream of learning to cut hair.
We’d love to hear from you. DM us on Instagram or email us (monica@madebyxerophile.com and steph@madebyxerophile.com). Let us know what you offer and what you need. Maybe we have some overlap or maybe we know someone who does.
In the meantime, stay healthy and praise the rain.
— Monica