The planning committee of an upcoming outdoor art exhibit meets recently at the Central Depot Courtyard where the exhibit will take place in July. Organizers are asking the public to submit their art for consideration. The artwork must be created during
Heather Bell
RADFORD – Residents of the New River Valley are invited to participate in a four-month, outdoor art exhibit of artwork created during and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The exhibition’s intent is to provide a creative outlet for NRV residents to artfully express their response to the pandemic, and to provide an outdoor artful destination for residents to safely view and experience art,” according to an announcement by Mountain Trotter Arts, the Radford-based non-profit organization that is one of the two hosts of the show along with Happy Sprout Garden.
The call for art is open to all NRV residents, artists, creators, and makers of all ages. Group and collaboration pieces are allowed.
“The exhibit asks, ‘What is your artful response to life during the time of COVID-19? What is your perspective and what do you have to say through art?,’ according to Mountain Trotter.
“We are going through a time that will be recorded in history as full of uncertainty, frustration, fear, and great unknowns. However, times like these can be fruitful periods of revelation, insight, and great creativity. Throughout history artists have reflected their present experiences in the art they create. We are inviting residents to put these reflections into 2D or 3D artwork that can be displayed in an outdoor garden space where the public is invited to view, touch, and interact with art.”
MTA Executive Director Lauri Murphy says she hopes this is the first of many exhibits to come.
“We are thrilled to be working alongside Happy Sprout Gardens to provide this artistic happening for professional and amateur artists in the NRV,”said Murphy. “Our organization strives to provide community oriented and artistically driven events and is looking forward to seeing the response to Pandemic Perspectives. We also look forward to hosting similar ventures in the future, and partnering with other local organizations to continue supporting local arts and artists.”
Guidelines for artwork can be found at mountaintrotterarts.com/pandemicperspectives. Artwork is to be submitted digitally. Deadline for digital application is July 6, 2020. There is no application fee.
Selections to be exhibited will be chosen by a panel of artists and MTA board members, based on artistic creativity, experimentation, imagination, originality, and response to the theme. Pandemic Perspectives will run from July 20, 2020 until October 11, 2020 at Central Depot Courtyard, located at 307 W Main St, Radford, VA (next to Brick House Pizza) and is free and open to the public.
