Pandemic Offers Opportunity To Local Artists At Exhibit
For many groups and events rules surrounding COVID - 19 has meant difficulties and challenges but for a group of Moose Jaw artists the pandemic has meant opportunity. An opportunity they could not let pass.
That opportunity is called "Space Holders: A Collection of Local Art" the current exhibition on display at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre’s gallery.
Until September 25th the works of 16 local artists working in various mediums is featured. Admission is free of charge, and the gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
To find out about this exhibition MJ Independent spoke to Jess Zoerb, one of the Artists in Residence, at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre who organized the exhibition.
Asked about what brought together the exhibition Zoerb said with the COVID - 19 pandemic there was a space in the Cultural Centre’s gallery’s schedule and she was asked if she could create a local exhibition.
“This collection is by local artists. It is kind of a filler space. They had a vacant wall and they asked if I had anything to hang and I decided to reach out to my contacts, who reached out to their contacts and we brought together a bunch of artists. Some of them are my friends and some of them I have never met,” Zoerb said.
Zoerb herself is an accomplished painter and a photographer but felt there needs to be opportunities for all artists to display their art. Although she has a couple of pieces in the exhibition it does not center around her work but rather all of the artists who took part.
“I just wanted to provide this opportunity to artists in Moose Jaw to hang our art. A lot of these artists here have never had the opportunity to show their art or haven’t taken that opportunity. I love the idea of kind of pushing them a little bit out there and showing their beautiful work. Who knows what that will lead to.”
Although the lack of an exhibition during August and September was the initial catalyst for the show there is a greater reason to put it on.
“I have this vision for the Moose Jaw community to connect the public with local artists. When I saw this opportunity it just seemed so fitting to bring local artists to the public, she said. “It kind of provides a space for many artists who maybe would not have the opportunity otherwise.”
The exhibition has both accomplished local artists who have had public showings before but there is also a handful of local artists who have never participated in an exhibition before.
“For some of them I think there was some hesitation and when I asked them. I just tried to encourage them and I think they are really glad that they did,” Zoerb said.
Although Moose Jaw has its fair share of more accomplished artists only a few who have publicly displayed their work before are participating in the exhibition.
When Zoerb was asked if there were any standout artists in the group who are participating in their first show she laughed and said “so you’re asking me to play favourties?”
“They all (impress) me in different ways. If you look around there is such a diverse collection and in different mediums, So it is so hard to compare them across their styles and medium…I didn’t address it with any specifications who came to me. I kept the skill level open and just decided the universe would bring to me who needed to be in this show at this time.”
Asked about the ages of the artists she said it was a variety of ages.
“There are my friends and then there are my friends’ parents so it is anywhere from 16 to sixties (in age).”
Asked further if the wide range of ages of artists was indicative of the Moose Jaw art community Zoerb replied it did.
“Absolutely I think there are creative people of all ages anywhere you go. I have this vision to build on that community and try to bring it out and I am working on a few things on the side to try to build on that.”
The pandemic has had, like the many different styles of artists in the community, different effects upon their art.
For Zoerb it has personally meant a drop in her time to be creative because she had three school age children to look after full-time when schools were closed. For other artists the spare time away from their day jobs granted them more time to work on their art.
Althought the gallery is set to return to its regular full schedule of exhibits she said given a smilar opportunity she would gladly work on hold more exhibitions similar to Space Holders: A Collection of Local Art.
“I would love to. Any way we can bring artists together and support each other and bring in the public yeah I would like to. But the gallery gets booked up far in advance so this is a special opportunity,” she said. “Maybe we can find other opportunities to partner with businesses to show our local art.”
For a taste of what diverse range of local artists Moose Jaw has to offer stop by the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre at 217 Main Street North during regular business hours to check out the works of 16 local artists.
Due to the COVID - 19 pandemic and the restrcitons on the number of people who may gather and proper physical distancing there will not be an opening for the exhibition but there is guest book you are free to sign.
Here is the list of the 16 local artists participating in the exhibition:
Beth Barrett
Hannah Behiel
Kayla Dale
Alysha Dixon
Jen Froese
Laura Hamilton
Kayla Hanson
Carly Jaye
Cathy Lendvoy
Tammy Mack
Karen Mealing-Jordan
Skye Mercier
Carol Reid
Kelly Thorson
Amanda Zentner
Jess Zoerb