Hera Gallery

#FoodforthoughtCreativeQuarantine From Hera Board President Uli Brahmst: some days I am overflowing with gratitude I feel the planet breathing love and care pouring out blessings all around other days I find myself in a dark vortex of dread exhausted hospital workers mask imprints on their teary faces wrapped bodies in dismal isolation meatfactories endless lines at food banks rapidly climbing unemployment numbers lies, betrayal, a true sense of horror and most days I fluctuate between both A month ago, on March 27th I committed to post a daily drawing on fb for the duration of our shelter in place order. The drawings are my contribution to the larger creative response to our shared Covid-19 reality.

#FoodforthoughtCreativeQuarantine An offering from Hera Board member Wendy Wahl Today this video arrived in my email at just the right moment to lift my spirits during these challenging times. It was forwarded to me from one of my dearest friends and amazing artist Rene Stawicki. We met at Hera Educational Foundation and Gallery in the 1990’s and it’s a relationship that I treasure. We don’t know who to credit this awesome work but I’m delighted to share it in the hopes that it brings you joy through laughter and/or tears.

#FoodforThoughtCreativeQuarantine From Hera member John Kotula A Virtual tour of Gates of Heaven and Other Stories My exhibit titled Gates of Heaven and Other Stories opened at Hera Gallery on March 7th and was scheduled to be up until April 4th. Well… life is what happens while you’re making other plans. Of course, the gallery had to close well before April 4th. On the other hand the show is still on the walls, because subsequent events were also put on hold and it is unclear when things will get back to normal and Hera’s always excellent programing will get going again. It maybe that my show and its companion exhibition, Chad Amos Self’s WE TIED HOTDOGS TO STRINGS AND MARVELED AT OUR DISCOVERIES: FINDING FORMS IN LOCAL WATERS, will stay up until Hera reopens, allowing some time for things to get reorganized. Perhaps there will be a public event to celebrate Hera being back in business! In the meantime, I want to present this blog entry as an alternative means of shar

#FoodforthoughtCreativeQuarantine From here member Abigail Wambolt, thoughts on being a teacher during the pandemic. VIRTUAL LEARNING: CAN WE DO IT? Abigail Wamboldt Transitioning to virtual learning this semester has been an incredible undertaking for both instructors and students. Teachers who never needed to be tech savvy have had to spend hours in virtual training, and watching webinars on how to effectively run classes online. Some teachers have it harder than others. How are ceramicists, or printmakers expected to create virtually without the proper tools? In many ways I count myself lucky that in drawing and painting our materials are relatively easy to transport and work with in a variety of settings. If teachers are struggling with online platforms students have been asked to do something more difficult: navigate whatever material their teacher has managed to throw together. One student confided in me that he had classes on Zoom, Blackboard C

#FoodforThoughtCreativeQuarantine From Hera Artist Kathie Florsheim... I have been roaming around my house and studio more than usual, I'm not usually here all day for days on end. In running up and down the stairs, I felt the warmth of sunlight cross my body as I passed the windows. Such a welcome presence. I have been sitting in the light, reading, and following it as it moves throughout the day.  Chasing light for a photographer is nothing new. Doing so in a pandemic, while confined, is a whole new level of intensity and wonder, in spite of circumstances. Being able to escape into something familiar, even for a brief period of time, is ... I can’t find words for this. I made some bad pictures and a few good ones as I watched the light, an old and trusted friend, dance through my kitchen. 

#FoodforThoughtCreativeQuarantine Today's Hera  artists  Sonja  Czekalski shares her #whatwomenwear project and what she has been thinking about  during  the pandemic. In the midst of this global pandemic, quarantine, social distancing, virtual learning, and extra studio art time world that has been thrown at us I have been focusing my energy on creating and embedding positivity and inspiration to those I can reach. I have spent the last two weeks creating a virtual art curriculum… I have had fun taking on the challenge of this role. It has forced me to think of lessons and ways to teach that I do not think I ever would have otherwise.  I have been meditating, channeling, and spiritually connecting with others to spread positive energy and high vibrations across the nation. And of course I have been taking advantage of the privilege of all this extra studio time!  This week I finished the  Self Portrait- Diana Corset  for my MFA Spring Semester (pictured below)

#FoodforThoughtCreativeQuarantine Hera board member Wendy Wahl shares information about mail in ballots for the primary election, (now on June 2, 20200 and Hera Gallery's rescheduled call for entries for our 100th anniversary celebration of women's suffrage, Right toVote. In today’s Providence Journal is the proposed process for voting in the RI primary. The primary is now June 2nd and it will likely be by mail in only. The registration deadline to receive a ballot by mail is April 7.  https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20200326/ri-presidential-primary-moving-toward-mailbox R.I. presidential primary moving toward mailbox In the latest conronavirus-induced change to Rhode Island’s presidential primary, the state Board of Elections on Thursday voted to stop requiring witnesses to observe ballots cast by mail.  The move comes three days after Gov. Gina Raimondo moved the state’s April 28 primary to June 2 at the board’s request to avoid the risk that voters