The Arts Council beyond Princeton: Work from Barbara DiLorenzo’s online students from 2020-2025
Exhibition statement:
In the middle of March 2020, classes were ending from the mid-winter session, and spring classes were about to begin. Students had already signed up for in-person studio classes. However, due to the COVID pandemic, we quickly had to pivot to Zoom classes online. The first classes were less about technique and more about adapting to the new way of learning and communicating online. We quickly got our bearings, and while the world was shut down, artists were inspired to paint locations all over the world from their own homes. Five years later, students continue to join this online community for many reasons. Some people have physical challenges that make attending in person too hard. Some people log in from hundreds of miles away (or other countries like Canada or Sweden). Our geographical distance was illustrated to us in April of 2024, when an earthquake struck New Jersey. Some people felt the tremors immediately, some felt them after a delay, and some artists up and down the Eastern seaboard didn’t feel anything and wondered why fellow artists near New Jersey were alarmed.
This collection is just a sampling of the work created by these artists in this time.
"With an art background of childhood crayons and coloring books, and later visits to art museums, I joined Barbara's classes during the pandemic with the hope of learning to paint watercolor landscapes. With these classes, I've improved my work and learned to see art and the world differently. Most significantly, I've found a lively and supportive creative community that encourages and inspires me. I'm very grateful these classes continue online: though the world has opened up, I'm still mostly at home. Though I've met only a few fellow students in person, the online community is real and thriving. Barbara and her students are a joyful presence in my artwork and my life. I hope we'll be together for a good while yet!"
