Online exibition : Social Distancing International Virtual Exhibition has just opened, so to say, its doors. Organized by Michael Rose Fine Art in response to time of social distancing and facing new global realities of corona pandemy the show presents thirty international artists. I am thrilled to participate in this art show for more than a couple of reasons.

First, this is a juried international art show and it is a great honor for me to be part of it. Basically it is true that an artist knows, or should know, when his work is good , just good or excellent. And even recognizing a piece just made as a bad one it still means nothing more as that the show has to go on, meaning work must go on. Better piece is definitely a moment of satisfaction, but then always something new to accomplish awaits and challenges an artist. And from that point of view getting recognition from outside means the show will go on, yes, for sure, but it also means: hey there is something in your work somebody likes. And, lets be honest, this means a lot. So, yes, juried international art show is a great thing for self consciousness of an artist.

Second, Michael Rose is a professional in the field. I don’t want to sound pretentious but as an emerging artist I do use social platforms intensively. I am grateful for the technology making it possible for me to connect with the potential customers, galleries, curators, art advisors, art dealers across the globe. But, oh my, am I also tired of non professional attempts, people stealing my time or even trying to get me into art- scam bussiness. So, yes, working with a professional is a huge relief I am grateful for.

Third, covid epidemy has hit us quite hard. Living in Slovenia it means we got quarantine quite early and the rules were rather strict. With Italian Bergamo and its tragedy less than 200 km away from our border it was no doubt things were serious. Our life turned upside down in a matter of days. I will never forget my friend from Rome urging me to buy food and toilet paper in advance. There had been times the two of us discussed italian fashion shops and suddenly we were briefing each other about the time spent in queue in front of the grocery shop. Yes, we actally were lucky ones, we could stay at home, in social isolation, battling, so to say, in our living rooms, skyping and zooming friends. Yet there was certain amount of anxiety in the air. Listening the news had become a ritual and reading about the virus almost a must. But the creative part of me did have a thoughter time as one could assume. Creating art means escaping into universe far away, it feels like travelling different lands and it really can be a relieve in hard times. But there is a hint, to start that journey of creative process it helps to be perfectly calm. No bad covid news needed. So from that point of view the Michael Rose Fine Art open call was a sort of relief, it helped a bit to embark that creativity flight and work hard for a goal. For that goal also meant the isolation should once end….

And fourth: this is my ever first online exibition! This spring I am participating on art show in my home town, too, but it has been postponed due to corona pandemic. Which I hear is the case with so many recent exibitions over the world. We all know the technology is able to support us to work from afar, to connect across the globe, so it basically shouldn’t be a surprise art shows are going virtual in time of pandemic. I personally believe the post pandemic landscape will be much more technological, virtual, as we can assume now. But this is not for the good, not for the bad. It is just a matter of type of communication. Yet, which does matter, and which I sincerely do hope that is growing before our eyes, is a new paradigm of communication in the art world. Where it would be possible to connect with the like minded art minds, galleries, art collectors, artists across the globe, making a big step across the social, political, economic, racial, gender barriers separating us now. I hope the pandemic art would teach us how to surpass those boundaries to remain close to the only thing that matters: good art. I see this art show as a step towards that goal.

At the end, let me finish with a quote from the official online exibition introduction:

“The goal of this exhibition is purely to bring together an exciting grouping of diverse work presented in a digital space.” Michael Rose

Please have a look at the exibition here,

Thank you,

Tamara