In the new normal, the show must go on. Maria Isabel Lopez, former beauty queen and actress presents new mosaic works in a virtual art exhibit—Pandemic Moments, A Virtual Show by Maria Isabel Lopez. NBC News San Francisco host, Ginger Conejero interviews the artist on Adobo Nation, a lifestyle show aired over TFC, The Filipino Channel. The artist gives the audience a studio walkthrough on the hybrid exhibition.
While the virtual exhibit was held in September, Lopez has also opened her studio by appointment only, following strict health protocols. This is accomplished in an outdoor setting in the beautiful gardens of her studio in Ranchito Milagro, Sonoma County, CA.
Much to the surprise of the artist, despite the difficulties created by Covid-19 and the economic downturn, she was able to realize sales beyond expectation, including commissioned works, to keep her busy for the rest of the year.
Art Show in the New Normal
Lopez was also featured in newsmagazine, OpinYon, where she discussed how she got out of the box and adapted to the new normal by having a virtual art exhibition. The artist had second thoughts about doing the exhibition amidst the pandemic but admitted the necessity of having an online presence. She explained that while everyone feels only essential services and businesses can survive, with a lot of faith, triple the hard work, and focusing on your clients, now is the time for artist to explore art, and let the audience know it is essential to our survival.
Pandemic Moments was sponsored by the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, which responded to the pandemic by offering its member artists an opportunity to re-vision the open studio concept and engage in a new online platform.
Title: Beauty Queen, Actress To Hold COVID-Pandemic One-Woman Art Exhibit In US Caption:
The poster for Pandemic Moments features Lopez’s Iluminati 3, used on the cover of Imelda’s Secret, a book about the “comfort women” who were exploited during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in World War II.
Title: Pandemic Moments-title of the virtual art exhibition focusing on art created by the artist in the midst of the lockdown.
Ways of the Cross #8 (right), has found a new home in St. Lawrence Parish in Utica, MI, with new collector, Father Roman Pasieczny. Madonna and Child (left), now belongs to another new collector, Maribeth Cid Rosario of Warren, MI. A new commissioned work is in progress, entitled Divine Mercy.
New Collector from Michigan purchases religious images. A Return to Byzantine: Description: After the fascination with nudes, Maria Isabel Lopez exhibits religious inspired mosaic pieces in Pandemic Moments. A return to Byzantine, The piece Ways of the cross #8 has found a new home in St. Lawrence Parish, Utica, Michican with the new collector, Fr. Roman Pasieczny. The other piece, Madonna and Child now belongs to new collector, Maribeth Cid Rosario of Warren, Michigan. A new commissioned work is in progress entitled “Divine Mercy”.