Looking Back on My First Virtual Exhibition
By Lindsay Knights Huff
February 27, 2021
Last weekend was my first virtual art exhibition. I talked about my story in front of forty-something people and then showcased thirty-something of my pieces. The goal was to give others a glimpse into my creative process and resulting portfolio. The showcase consisted of a slideshow with a variety of artwork, including several pieces I completed before college. My portfolio includes a wide range of media like acrylic, watercolor, chalk pastel, marker, graphite, pen and ink, and charcoal. I mentioned that acrylic and watercolor are my favorite media to work with, which most of my commissioned pieces are done in.
This was not my first exhibition. I have had the privilege of showcasing my work at a local gallery as a featured artist in Charlottesville’s First Fridays in the summer of 2019 and again at the Connaughton Gallery at UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce building this past semester. Each exhibition experience looked very different; my first show was in person for one evening, where a large concentration of people came to see my work for a short amount of time, resulting in an exciting and fast-paced evening. My second show, a joint exhibition with another local artist entitled “Memories Evoked: Near and Far”, was a long-term showcase that lasted four months. While the in-person opening event was canceled and the gallery hours were limited due to the pandemic, a virtual gallery was also created as another platform to view my work. This provided a smooth transition into my next virtual exhibition with I AM Art House.
I was pleased that my showcase last weekend ran smoothly, and I was amazed at the depth of engagement from those who attended. Of course I had hoped that my first exhibition with I AM Art House would be in-person, but I am thankful that we were able to achieve a similar level of engagement in a virtual setting. Guests were still able to hear the story behind my pieces, ask questions, access my price list, and request prints and originals through an online form.
The questions that were asked following the showcase were insightful and forced me to dig deeply into what defines me as an artist. My introduction and background stories were told in a resume-like style, filled with surface-level facts about me as a student-artist. The questions asked at the end allowed me to tell a deeper story about how my faith influences my work, the details of my creative process, and why I chose certain subject matter and media to work with. My favorite question was about how my faith influences my art, to which I explained how nature is the subject matter of most of my pieces. I strive to depict God’s creation so that others can experience the beauty of God’s creation. In the process, I hope to glorify God with the gifts He has given me.
It brought me much joy to see the names and faces of friends, family, and strangers at my exhibition. I’m thankful for today’s technology which allowed me to share my artistic journey on a different platform. I’m grateful that I was able to share my gifts with familiar and unfamiliar faces. I am looking forward to my next showcase – a group exhibition with fellow I AM Art House artists on May 1.
One of 28 slides of my work from the 2/20 exhibition
