“Art has always been the raft onto which we climb to save our sanity. I don’t see a different purpose for it now.”
- Dorothea Tanning (1910–2012)
American painter, printmaker, sculptor, writer, and poet
I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that so many events of 2020 have sent the world reeling. For many people, the sense of social and societal upheaval began years earlier -- and that feeling of uncertainty and destabilization is unavoidable. People have long looked to art as a way of coping with, expressing, understanding, and escaping from the changing world we live in.
“For me, painting is a way to forget life. It is a cry in the night, a strangled laugh.”
- Georges Rouault (1871–1958) French painter, draughtsman and print artist
This month, Arts Center East opened its doors to the public again for its newest exhibit, Coping: Responding through Art. Like so many organizations and venues, Arts Center East has been closed since mid-March. In that time, artists and students have kept creating and stayed busy with online classes and virtual exhibits, and even a virtual artisan craft fair. And in light of recent events, Arts Center East wanted to provide a space for artists to express their responses to recent events, whether global or local, political or personal.
The Coping exhibit is designed to showcase how artists use their artwork to speak to the world. It showcases all mediums, from sculpture to oil painting, to sketches and digital art. While many of the exhibits at Arts Center East are themed, we wanted this exhibit to be for any and all artists responding to any topic or moment that moved them, from Environmental Awareness and Natural Disasters, to Politics and Government, Racial, Social, and Economic Inequality, Gender Identity and Representation, Mental Health, and more.
The artists were also invited to provide short descriptions to accompany their pieces.
“In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.”
- Vincent Van Gogh (1853–1890) Dutch post-impressionist painter
It seems fitting that this free-form, personal exhibit is the first hung in the gallery -- as so many people are adjusting to this “new normal.”
The exhibit will be on display through September 27. For everyone’s consideration and safety, social distancing and masks are required of both visitors and staff. They look forward to welcoming visitors into the gallery again to view this unique exhibit. For those who do not yet feel comfortable visiting the gallery in person, this exhibit can also be seen on the website at www.artscentereast.org/coping.
Image Credits:
Corrine DeNucci--A Long Day at the Beach
Dianne Ward--See the Forest
Rhea Sutter--Viral Fauna Face Off