New Jersey art students hold drive-thru art show to exhibit their work

When an art exhibit featuring the work of students from the South Orange Performing Arts Center was in danger of being canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers did what all great artists do – they got creative.

News 12 Staff

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May 16, 2020, 1:16 AM

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Updated 1,611 days ago

When an art exhibit featuring the work of students from the South Orange Performing Arts Center was in danger of being canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers did what all great artists do – they got creative.

It may not be the typical way of viewing arts – but these are atypical times

“We just wanted to somehow bring them together to show that we were still standing near them,” says SOPAC director of community engagement and education Linda Beard.

What followed was a drive-thru art gallery to show off the Inspired Minds art exhibit featuring work from high school students in Essex County.

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“It was getting me out of the house,” says Glen Ridge high school sophomore William Walker.

Walker came by the exhibit to see his self-portrait art, along with the work of 63 other students.

Photos: South Orange PAC Drive-Thru Art Gallery

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“And it still felt like a real, solid event. That hasn’t really been going on,” he says.

The artwork was posted up in the windows of SOPAC next to a circle drive. The public was invited to drive by to see it. It was not an easy exhibit to curate.

“I’ve never been challenged to dive an exhibit during obviously a pandemic and not being able to have crowds gather,” says curator Jeremy Moss.

Prints were made of the original artwork in sizes that would fit the windows. There were nearly 800 entries.

The Inspired Minds exhibit is scheduled to be on display at SOPAC until August.