Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in an online opening for RIWS Pattern and Abstraction. I'd never been to an online opening and didn't know what to expect. I prepared a statement because Pink Magic, (above) had received an honorable mention. Writing down my thoughts became a verbal portal to the piece, enriching a process and result which in my mind, had previously been non-verbal. (Find my thoughts here.)
What surprised me was that simply by writing about my piece, I became committed to experiencing the exhibit online. I'm not sure why that was but during the opening, the presenter asked artists to offer remarks and carefully took us through the exhibit of 45 works, one by one.
Like many of us, when I go to a live opening, I float between the pieces that attract me. Here, I was in my studio and had the chance to absorb each artist's work as it appeared, examining the image on my screen while I tried to understand their inspiration and how they brought those ideas into form.
The experience was simultaneously relaxing and energizing. There was so much to investigate and I was able to take notes about ideas I wished to follow up on.
Of course there is nothing like seeing art work in real space and time! Nevertheless, my hope is that online exhibits with openings allow us to travel far from our home and studios and experience even more art with the artists who created it.
Pink Magic is currently in the online Pattern and Abstraction show but you can see and purchase it in person on here.