Responding to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, MGNE is taking cautionary measures to keep our community safe. We have decided to postpone our Open Regional Juried Exhibition at the Slater Memorial Museum. Although it was a difficult decision, the MGNE Board feel it is necessary for the safety of our members, volunteers, and community. All submission fees for the exhibition will be fully reimbursed. Please note that Singular: Monotypes and Monoprints, our regional member-initiated exhibition at #LOCAL Gallery is also closed and the participating artists have been informed.
What we are currently experiencing is unprecedented. Our personal and work lives have changed in many significant ways in a very short period of time. With the cancellation of exhibitions, classes, conferences and workshops across the country, we recognize that many artists are feeling the stress of lost income and an uncertain future. Please click here for links to resources for artists and click here for a list of emergency grants for artists. As many of us are also adjusting to confining ourselves at home, we’d also like to share these helpful tips on living in isolation from retired NASA astronaut Scott Kelly.
We believe that it is important to stay connected and support each other during these challenging times. Artist Gerhard Richter famously said “Art is the highest form of hope.” Therefore, we want to encourage you all to stay creative and hopeful during the weeks and months to come. MGNE will be hosting a virtual exhibition of monotypes and monoprints via our website and social media. We also have virtual printmakers meet & greets and virtual “Printing Without A Press” workshops in the works. We’ll be sending out more information within the coming weeks.
In the meantime, we want to hear from you! Email us if you are interested in hosting an online workshop from your home. Tag us in pictures or videos of your workspace and current projects @monotypeguildNE on instagram, and tell us how this shift has impacted your creative process. We will share them to our social media pages. We also recommend that you submit or update your MGNE members profile at https://mgne.org/membergallery/members-gallery-submission/.
Finally, I want to thank our volunteers and community for your incredible resilience, commitment and fortitude during these difficult times. Please be safe and take care of yourself and your families.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Torres, President
Image Credit: Gail Hansen, “Cherry Orange,” Monoprint.
