Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Artist Nanci Hersh Unveils Pandemic-Inspired Exhibit "...From the Zoom Room"

Thumbnails of Nanci Hersh's newest exhibit, Unmasked: Portraits From the Zoom Room.
In March 2020, the world changed; so did the work of Delaware artist Nanci Hersh

The pandemic threw us all into a surreal yet voyeuristic world, presenting a unique opportunity for everyone to be their “unmasked” selves, for better or worse. The elevation of Zoom technology changed how we interacted and gave us a new perspective­­ — bizarrely intimate, both authentic and contrived at the same time.

Fascinated by this opportunity to observe and capture a microcosm of human experiences within the pandemic, Hersh has developed her latest series working from screenshots taken via Zoom conferences since March 2020. The exhibit, Unmasked: Portraits from the Zoom Room, opens November 15, 2021 and runs through January 14, 2022 at The Mill Space, a co-working loft in the heart of downtown Wilmington. 

With every screenshot captured, she found a different story, a new perspective, and a recognizable silver lining — ­illuminating the humor, boredom, pathos, and beauty that has kept us all connected.

Many, if not most, of the subjects are artists, educators, and “everyday” people that she shares space with in her role as Executive Director of Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education. Hersh has taken the challenges of the past 18 months and transformed those seemingly endless Zoom meetings into works of art. 

All her paintings are acrylic on synthetic non-woven paper, mounted on cradled birch panels and framed in museum black floater framers, 15.5”x25.5”. To date, there are 26 “Zoom Room portraits” in total.

The Opening Reception for Hersh's exhibit will be held Wednesday, November 17, 2021, from 4:30-6:30pm at The Mill Space, 1007 N. Orange Street, 4th Floor, Wilmington, DE 19801. Additional exhibition hours are 8:00-11:30am and 1:30-5:00pm Monday through Friday, or by appointment.

ABOUT NANCI HERSH
Nanci Hersh is a contemporary mixed media artist who draws directly from her personal life. Her passion is to share stories to reveal our universal connections and inspire others through art. She is also an illustrator, educator, arts advocate and administrator as Executive Director of the Delaware Institute for the Arts in Education. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States including “Riverfront 20/20” and “Farthest From the Ordinary” at The Delaware Contemporary in Wilmington, DE, “50 States/200 Artists” at the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe, NM, “Eons Beyond the Rib” at Seraphin Gallery in Philadelphia, PA “Paper Work” at the Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie and “The Demoiselles Revisited” at Francis M. Naumann Fine Art, NYC, along with solo exhibitions in PA, NJ, DE, and HI. Nanci has received numerous honors including three purchase awards from the State Foundation of Culture and the Arts, Hawai’i, and three Leeway Foundation Art & Change Grants. Her work is included in the Public Collections of Museum of Encaustic Art, Johnson & Johnson, Leland Portland Cement, and OSI Pharmaceuticals to name a few.

To enjoy more of Nanci Hersh’s work, visit nancihersh.com.