The NorVA Centre has shut its doors due to the danger of the COVID-19, but that isn’t stopping area artists from showing off what they’ve been working on.
The gallery launched the #norvaquarantinegallery on Instagram as a way for members and the community to share their work without physically congregating.
Gallery manager Mike Spencer said the idea was brought up at the board meeting that decided whether or not NorVA would temporarily close.
“It’s something that we could do to benefit people who are going to be stuck in isolation,” he said.
“When we realized that that was not going to be a possibility, we started thinking about ways we could engage people by not having our physical location open.”
The first post on NorVA’s Facebook page was a piece from Spencer’s and artist Noelle Drimmie’s daughter Daisy.
“We have to show that anyone can make a post,” said Drimmie.
“You don’t have to be a NorVA artist. You don't even have to call yourself an artist. We just want to see the creative things that people are doing in their homes.”
Spencer said more people than ever have started creating art while sitting at home in self-isolation, even if supplies are lacking.
“It just forces you to kind of look around your home and go ‘What do I have? What can I use?’” Drimmie said.
“Mike is using collected plastics that couldn't be recycled and is now turning them into an art project as we speak. A lot of my household garbage is now being turned into art which is great.”
Spencer said the gallery was looking forward to spending spring break running workshops for kids, but the gallery hopes to share resources for parents to use at home.
“You get creative with your kids. I know so many parents are doing that and they're watching YouTube tutorials and art tutorials and really embracing the internet for instructional videos,” Drimmie said.
“If people are feeling a little stuck or need some inspiration, we're gonna start posting resources along with the gallery submissions to keep people motivated.”
For the technically challenged, NorVA is also taking submissions via email and sharing them with the proper hashtag. Artists can tag their art on Instagram at #norvaquarantinegallery or email norvacentre@gmail.com to submit a photo of the art they created.
