Art In Person

I am always excited to be accepted into an art exhibit. Being selected by a juror or curator I respect is a privileged acknowledgement of my work.  The bonus is attending the exhibit opening to feel the excitement in the room and talk to people who are interested in art.  That exchange is valuable to me because I can get a sense of how my work is perceived. Sometimes, I’m able to finish a good conversation with a different way to see my work.

 It's hard to believe that, suddenly, two months after I enjoyed exhibiting in the well-attended juried show at Art Fair 14C, all my upcoming exhibits are online only for now.  The Art Fair was especially rewarding because I was able to meet and talk with curators, collectors and art appreciators from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and beyond.  Equally as important, I was able to connect with and begin new relationships with other artists. 

While I’m grateful for the opportunity to exhibit my work digitally during this quarantine and applaud those who are working so hard to create online exhibitions, those in-person connections and conversations are nearly impossible to replicate online. After looking at an image of a piece of art online, I have been unable to recreate that visceral reaction that occurs when I stand in front of a painting or sculpture that moves me.  If digital exhibits prevail, and they will, I hope the opportunity for a stimulating exchange of ideas with art appreciating strangers blossoms equally. As for that gut-level reaction to an image of art online, I’ll have to work on that.