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Growing seeds, taking up new crafty hobbies and laughing are some of the activities a local gallery director has turned to while her “carefully planned” schedule has been left in the air by the corona virus outbreak.
Sasha Gibb temporarily closed the doors of CCA Galleries International on 18 March, ahead of the lockdown.
Since then, she has been working from home, sharing an online catalogue of the gallery’s latest exhibition, a series of prints and works on paper by Dan Baldwin, and finding ways to adapt to the current situation.
Pictured: CCA Galleries' latest exhibition was a a series of prints and works on paper by Dan Baldwin.
The Gallery Director was in the midst of preparations for the Jersey Summer Exhibition, which presents a selection of work of local visual artists picked by a panel of professional artists.
89 artists had applied this year - 10% more than in 2019 – and while judges would normally visit Jersey to come and see the work, Sasha has been uploading just under 250 exhibits from home.
“We will seek advice and if we need to restrict access or close the gallery in the summer, I‘ll be looking for a local film maker to film the hang and show it online alongside an exhibition catalogue," she said.
Sasha has also been making the most of social media and plans on sharing short films and comments by a handful of the artists she works with, from Sir Peter Blake to first time exhibitors of the Jersey Summer Exhibition.
Pictured: Ms Gibb says she is determined to have something positive for the community to focus on in June.
Whilst busy working from home, Sasha admits that, like everyone, she found the past weeks “in isolation with young family stuck in England incredibly difficult".
She shared what's been helping to lift her mood with Express...
“In these times, I think the need for art is more important than ever. Personally, I have found great solace in the art and artists I surround myself with. It has resulted in a bit of rehanging in the small hours but has given me hope and psychological security.
The reason I get up each morning to work at CCA Galleries International is the artists we work with. We are not ‘art dealers’, we nurture longstanding relationships with artists and clients over many years.
On Thursday last week, Londoners woke up to ‘London Stands Together’ - a classic piece of feel good, free art by Sir Peter Blake on the front page of the Evening Standard. This came about through Blake and Coriander Studios working together - at a safe distance - Peter is 88 now) to raise the spirits and give a reassuring hug to a terrified community.
Peter is known for his patriotism and effective communication. He produced the game changing Sgt. Pepper’s album cover for the Beatles in 1967 and opened our gallery at 10 Hill Street in 2013.
To be able to think creatively in any business is exciting. To be able to think creatively in a global pandemic keeps you sane. Artists help you see the world through a difference lens.
Pictured: Sasha has planted lettuce seeds in cut-up water bottles like Louise Cattrell suggested.
I have lettuce seeds growing in cut up water bottles thanks to artist Louise Cattrell, sour dough, kombucha and kefir cultures thanks to India Hamilton and an eminent Turkish poet who I never even met.
I am now taking in darning and mending with renewed confidence thanks to a course at Kettle's Yard (@kettlesyard) with artist Celia Pym.
The film clip of artist Danny Rolph DJing at Worton Hall Studios, heckled by a crazy print team is on our Instagram because it makes me and the rest of us laugh. Danny is a cockney artist who has had two exhibitions in Jersey (one in Jerriais) as well as judging the 2018 Jersey Summer Exhibition.
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Pictured: Artist Danny Rolph on decks at Wortonhall Studios.
I am surrounded by kindness, camaraderie and a sense of humour. I have an exhibition timeline carefully planned until March next year and no longer know what’s happening tomorrow.
Working with artists, we’re used to having to change tack and to embrace the ‘happy accident’.
If you can be open to opportunity, are kind to each other and dare not be entirely in control, you’ll be fine.”
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