R’emerged
a virtual exhibition hosted by the Monmouth Museum
WHEN: The virtual gallery is available for online viewing until June 3
WHERE: www.monmouthmuseum.org/virtualgallery.
Artwork by Raritan Valley Community College faculty member Darren McManus is featured in two ongoing virtual exhibitions.
McManus, a resident of Lambertville, is an Assistant Professor in the College’s Arts & Design Department. (Left: Darren McManus, “COVID-19 March 27, 2020,” digitally manipulated photographs, 2020. )
Originally slated to take place on site at the museum in Lincroft, R’emerged was reconsidered as the Monmouth Museum’s first-ever virtual exhibition when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Curated by Donna Kessinger, the exhibition features work by alumni of the museum’s New Jersey Emerging Artists series who have previously been awarded solo exhibitions at the museum. McManus had a solo exhibition at the Monmouth Museum in 2009 and has several paintings included in R’emerged. (Right: Darren McManus, “The Uncertainty Principle,” acrylic on beveled wood, 48" diameter, 2017-18.)
McManus also was invited to create seven new works for a virtual exhibition organized by Los Angeles-based curator Kristine Shomaker of Shoebox PR/Art and Cake. Call and Response: Collaboration at a Distance offers a way for artists to stay connected, increase their constituency (albeit from afar), and to support each other during this period of isolation while remaining creatively active. McManus was randomly paired with Los Angeles-based artist Xu Darocha and, over a two-week period, the two artists exchanged creative efforts daily. The partnership resulted in the creation of 14 unique works of art for the exhibition. (Above, left: Darren McManus, “COVID-19 March 31, 2020,” digital media, 2020)
Collectively, the exhibition documents the collaboration of all the artists involved in the project. The exhibition is being displayed online at https://shoeboxpr.com/2020/04/10/call-and-response-collaboration-at-a-distance/
Raritan Valley Community College is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.
