For Julia Noyes, “The art must go on!” despite COVID-19 regulations from Lancaster County that has halted several other Lincoln events.
Art and garden lovers gathered in Sunken Gardens on Sept. 12 for Noyes Art Gallery’s 8th annual Art in the Garden event following this year’s theme 50 Shades of Pink to honor women in art.
Noyes Art Gallery is an art gallery located at 119 South Ninth Street in Lincoln and has been open for the past 27 years. The gallery is completely volunteer-run with the opportunity for members to display their work in its studio. The event raises funds for Lincoln’s Sunken Gardens and gives Noyes Art Gallery members the space to sell their work publicly.
“It really kind of brings the art to people who might not necessarily go in an art gallery of their own accord because I think a lot of times art galleries can be really intimidating, but I feel like art should be accessible to everyone,” Artist Dana Clements said. “Because I think life is better with art.”
“We feel very blessed to be able to offer this to the community,” said Julia Noyes, Noyes Art Gallery owner.
Julia Noyes, Noyes Art Gallery owner, said she feels like her team of artists and volunteers at the gallery are making history with the event especially at a time where so many other community events have been canceled. More than 50 artists and 30 volunteers prepared for the event, which came with a few extra steps due to COVID-19 regulations.
“We had to fill out 28 pages of forms to get compliance and to understand the regulations and to promise to do these things,” Noyes said. “The artists are really so grateful to have this opportunity and to be able to offer this to the community.”
Noyes Art Gallery volunteers encouraged event-goers to practice social distancing and follow the guided lines in a single direction throughout the garden. Upon arrival, event-goers were asked to provide their name and number for contact tracing purposes in the case of an outbreak. Masks were required (and available at the door), and hand sanitizer bottles were placed at every artist booth with touchless payment options when purchasing.
The 50 Shades of Pink theme was not by chance. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Noyes said the two gardeners in charge of Sunken Gardens, Steve Nosal and Alice Reed, redesign the garden every year. Art in the Garden organizers and volunteers work year long to create an event that fits the theme.
The Art in the Garden event held at Sunken Gardens on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Lincoln. Event-goers were directed by arrows on the ground that guided them through the garden in a single direction.
The art featured at the event included woodwork, paintings, jewelry design, photography, sculptures and clothing. Artists engaged in conversation with event-goers about their work while maintaining at least 6 feet of distance.
Artists discuss their artwork with event-goers at Art in the Garden held at Sunken Gardens on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Lincoln.
“We feel very blessed to be able to offer this to the community,” Noyes said.
Noyes said she hopes people look back fondly at the event with a little piece of art in their home and remember that yes, there is life even outside the boredom of staying inside.
