In April 2020, the world was a few weeks into facing and responding to the pandemic. Everything was shut down everywhere. People were holding their breath. Roads were empty, grocery stores in our neighborhood had nothing on their shelves. Lines wrapped around blocks with people waiting to be let in and hopefully find a remaining can of beans or box of pasta. Zoom was crashing because people were connecting digitally on a scale beyond our imagination. Animal Crossing was sold out everywhere as people escaped to a peaceful digital island where nothing bad could happen to them. I recount all of this as if it wasn’t still happening today, and the reality is that the pandemic and quarantine have had a wide range of phases. This early one that lasted through mid May was the first stage and a very unique one. We were united. We were in this together. We never imagined that a year later we would be where we are: still in a pandemic and more divided than ever.
It was a random day in April when I had a flash of an idea that I barely processed, but immediately spit into the universe (via social media of course): why not just turn my apartment into a gallery and make my own show? Why not see if anyone wants to virtually attend?
I made an awkward invitation through my instagram stories, gave myself 4 weeks to imagine and create a body of work, and invited any and all to ‘attend’.
The idea for the show came about as suddenly as the idea to have the show. I was determined to use materials I already had (where was I going to get any anyway?). I had small 3x5 and 5x7 papers that had no other purpose. It felt appropriate drawing small scale since our lives had been scaled down to match the square footage of our apartment as well. All that we held was now packed in these walls. From there I thought, What if I drew what was outside my windows? Our apartment at the time was on the bottom floor and only looked out at other apartments and passerby’s. We did have a small outdoor space but you had to strain your neck to see the sky. I decided to build the show in 3 sets. First, I would draw what I saw from our home, as I saw it, on 3x5 paper. Then I would document the shapes of changing shadows in colors that I missed. I would note the date and time. I also did those on 3x5 paper. Finally, the ‘big’ works were on 5x7 paper and they were comprised of some of the same images I had started with, but in these the views were overgrown with plants like an ancient and abandoned temple lost to a jungle.
I titled it The Outside.
There were many thoughts that went into this series, but the most profound for me was the experience of sitting in relative silence and observing what was in front of me and around me in new detail. Shadows became interesting. The Outside had become new. We didn't understand the virus and we didn’t know what lay before us or what would keep us or our loved ones safe. The familiar landscape had become unknown and wild. But like with any wilderness, the risk also offered the opportunity for something new, like clear skies in LA and animals returning to old habitats, people coming together, united by a common experience. That did not last, but it did start there.
Finally, on the day of the show, I launched the live stream on my instagram and around 50 people tuned in from all over. I had invited people to dress up and to show off. People shared my screen just to say hello, or to celebrate or cry. One had finished their doctorate that day- all alone in their apartment. Another had lost their job. Others had given birth. Everyone was experiencing life change in a vacuum. I gave space to share these experiences and to ask questions, to commune. It was really powerful during a time of real isolation and fear. I gave everyone a tour and my artist talk. Most of the show sold that night, and each piece was accompanied by a hand written letter with a story from our quarantine experience.
The show was so well received that I decided to do a second one in the Fall : The Inside.
This became a sister show, ‘cleverly’ named the Inside, was a response to all the other unforeseen realities that came along side the already tumultuous year: the murder of George Floyd by police, staggering numbers of deaths due to Covid and people are decided on if Covid is even real, wildfires are the worst in West Coast History destroying millions of acres and making it impossible to breathe outdoors for weeks, and an incredibly intense election riddled with conspiracy and division… to name a few things.
The Outside had truly become a new and wild landscape. This new series was an introspective look at the impacts that consumption and the outside, was having on our bodies and minds, and the impact we were having on the outside based on what we were breathing back out into the atmosphere. You can learn more about the show in a previous blog entry here.
I invited and presented the show the same way I had for the Outside months earlier, via Instagram.
Many attended and the show is almost entirely sold out (only 2 or 3 small works remain.)
Why continue these in-home exhibitions?
You may be asking yourself, that was all good for quarantine and the beginnings of Covid, but will you actually continue creating them? And for now, the answer is yes.
First of all, the pandemic still looms and art exhibits are primarily online anyway.
Secondly, I love how this allows me to directly interact with many who would not usually attend a gallery experience. It also creates little to no overhead for myself and allows me to sell and speak directly to people interested in my work. I deeply value and love the gallery experience. I think it is very special for those who enter into it and engage with that space. I look forward to gallery openings and artist talks again- both attending and giving. However, there is something sacred about this experience too. I like the freedom of creating my work in short windows, welcoming people into my home, and sharing that journey in a very unique way with others.
I hope others begin to do them. I hope I get to do 2 person shows and that it grows into its own entity of artistic freedom and engagement with others.
Keep your eyes peeled for more in-home art shows in 2021!
Cheers!
Sarah
