Galleries that participated in Art Detour, a self-guided art tour in downtown Phoenix, have moved their exhibitions online so people can access them from home amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Artlink, the company behind Art Detour, announced in mid-March that the Art d’Core Gala was canceled due to public health concerns. The gala was the kick-off celebration of the five-day event. The Art d’Core Exhibition, which showcased artistic collaborations, was added online.
In an Art Detour update, Artlink Inc. President and CEO Catrina Kahler encouraged community members to find art inspiration by “detouring” the Art Detour destinations online.
While many art venues and galleries canceled their events during Art Detour in response to the coronavirus, some have moved to the virtual world to allow visitors to view and interact with the art.
Bentley Gallery, a Phoenix art gallery that has been open for over 30 years, canceled its opening night reception for their current exhibition, Repetition.
Craig Randich, director of Bentley Gallery, said they are currently in the process of putting the exhibition online.
“It gives people happiness to have art in some fashion in their lives, so … by giving them virtual tours, it’s very important at this time with the coronavirus going on right now,” Randich said.
Other art institutions around the world are turning to the internet to create art spaces that feature virtual tours and exhibitions. Among those is the Phoenix Art Museum.
In response to COVID-19, Phoenix Art Museum announced its temporary closure. The museum has started new efforts to increase its content on its digital platforms so people can have the museum experience, according to the Phoenix Art Museum’s website.
“We commit to bringing daily and weekly doses of art that will increase access to our collections in a virtual space,” the website says.
Days before Art Detour, Eye Lounge Collective, an artist-run contemporary art space, canceled their physical exhibition, 20/20: INSIGHT, as well as its workshops and demonstrations, to encourage people to practice social distancing.
The decision was made after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced recommendations to limit events and group sizes to 10 people or less, and businesses in downtown were announcing closures, said Gina DeGideo, co-president of Eye Lounge Collective.
Instead, 20/20: INSIGHT was moved to a virtual platform for the art community to enjoy from the comfort of their homes.
“With so many people keeping themselves at home, we felt like moving online was the best way to connect with our community,” DeGideo said.
20/20: Insight was the first full exhibition Eye Lounge Collective put on their website.
“We all feel that art is an extremely powerful form of communication and is a valuable therapeutic outlet, much needed in times like these,” DeGideo said.
Contact the reporter at kcmatthe@asu.edu.
