West Chicago's Gallery 200's '2020' exhibit opens after postponement

Earlier this year, a compelling exhibit of art created during the year in which the COVID-19 pandemic started, was delayed due to the very thing that inspired it.

The necessary mandates of resurgence mitigation to reduce community spread of the illness, forced a closure of Gallery 200, a division of People Made Visible, at 103 West Washington St. in downtown West Chicago during the month of January, and the exhibit aptly named "2020" was postponed.

With a move to Phase 4 guidelines of the Restore Illinois Plan by the Illinois Department of Public Health in early February, limited reopening of the art venue began Feb. 12.

The exhibit is open for public viewing on Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be no opening reception for "2020," and physical distancing and face masks are required when in the gallery.

"2020" explores the journey taken by eight artists to cope with their fears, pain, and uncertainty during the unprecedented time of a global health crisis. The exhibit features the work of artists Margaret Bucholz, Marge Hall, Judi Horsley, Kathi Kuchler, Britta Renwick, Sue Tripp, and Marita Valdizan, and Heide Morris, and provides their glimpse of the pandemic through their art.

"Some of the pieces were made by artists to help them cope with their fears, pain and uncertainty during these unprecedented and worrisome times - some of the art was produced to show that there is always beauty, even during dark times - and some of the art just plain came to be because making art makes the artist feel better," wrote artist Britta Renwick.

The one thing all of the artwork in "2020" has in common is that it was produced during the year of the 2020 pandemic, a year none are likely to forget.

To view and shop the exhibit online, or to explore some of the work of other Gallery artists, visit www.gallery200.net.