Touchstone Gallery’s physical space has been closed since March 12, 2020 due to the pandemic, but our art is open and thriving. We are continuing our mission to enrich the community through diverse contemporary art exhibitions and to support artists locally, nationally and internationally, but, like almost every other business, we are doing it differently than we did before the pandemic.
Elaine Florimonte’s solo show, originally scheduled for the physical gallery in May, is every bit as captivating in 3-D online. “My current attraction to abstract landscape comes from a need for balance and space,” she says. My landscapes are metaphors for the nature of human relationship and our human need for connection.
“Art is especially important for people now for so many reasons,” says Gallery Director Ksenia Grishkova. “It provides stress relief for some and inspiration for others. It can bring the joy of favorite memories or the stimulation of education. It can be thought-provoking and a way to communicate with other people. Everyone finds something in art.”
With the sudden shutdown, Grishkova and her staff quickly moved the March exhibit online and developed a plan for future virtual exhibits and operations. We now offer several ways for patrons to view and enjoy art.
The Virtual Exhibit—You Can See Our Shows in Your Pajamas
In July, Touchstone launched its first 3-D show. “It is something very new for us. The virtual program gives the feeling of walking around the gallery. You can come close. You can step back, just as you would in the physical space. We hope people will enjoy it,” Grishkova says.
The look is clean and simple, allowing the viewer to focus on the art, and it is easy to navigate, so the experience is fun. “My kids can navigate it easily, even with their fingers,” Grishkova says. “For me, sometimes I go too far and bump into the wall. No harm done, it’s easy to back up.”
Our virtual gallery will continue to host monthly solo shows and bi-monthly member shows. Currently on exhibit is Elaine Florimonte’s August solo show, Landscape as Metaphor, and the July-August Member Show.
A special treat, Us: What Divides Us and What Unites Us, is scheduled for September 11-October 31, 2020. This international juried show is set to explore artists’ reactions to the forces that are pushing and pulling us all in so many different directions today..
An archive of previous shows in 2-D or 3-D format is also available on the Touchstone website.
The Touchstone Gallery Virtual Gallery is open 24/7. Visit us at https://www.touchstonegallery.com/exhibits .
Visit Our Artist Pages
Elaine Florimonte, She Was Physically Forgotten, 10 x 10 x 1, Acrylic Collage on Canvas
You can view albums of the work of our artists in the artist section of our website. In addition to images of an artist’s work, the artist’s statement and other information provides insight into the artist’s process and motivations as well as links to their social media accounts.
If You Like It, Buy It!
Buying art online is a great way to refresh your home, brighten your new home office space or indulge yourself in a non-fattening treat during the pandemic. There is no potential exposure in visiting the virtual gallery or our other online resources, and transactions can be contactless.
“We want to do everything we can to make the experience enjoyable and satisfying for buyers. We provide all the information you need to be sure you are happy with your new art and to make the purchase process as easy as possible,” Grishkova says. If you see something you like, she can provide additional pictures, showing the work from the front, back and sides. In most cases, she can arrange a socially-distanced in-person viewing for those in the area and also arrange contactless delivery or pickup—no shipping fees involved.
Elaine Florimonte, After the Crash, 20 x 20 x 1 inch, Acrylic Collage on Paper
Support Your Local Artists
We are a gallery, so of course we like to sell art, but we also appreciate patrons supporting us in other ways. Visiting the Touchstone Gallery website and viewing our exhibits is one. Following artists on social media is another.
“Artists create work to open communication with others. They find it interesting to see what others see in their art,” Grishkova says. “Reach out to them on social media and tell them what you think about the work.”
Links to Touchstone artists’ social media accounts can be found on their individual artist pages on the Touchstone website.
Safety First!
“The decision to shut down was very difficult at the time, but it has proved to be the correct decision,” said Ksenia Grishkova, Touchstone Gallery’s director. “We did it to protect gallery visitors and our members and to support public safety. We are not going to rush into reopening in a physical space, because we are still concerned about safety, but we are going to continue to offer an enjoyable, enriching experience online.”
And Touchstone artists are going to continue to create exciting new works and to enjoy sharing them with our supporters and patrons. See you online!
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Elaine Florimonte, You Made a Bird Out of Me, 30 x 30 x 1 inch, Acrylic Collage on Canvas