Every year, The College of Lake County’s Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art hosts “The Members Exhibition,” an exhibit where members of all ages are encouraged to submit their artwork to the gallery, where it can then be shown to the larger community. 

Typically, the gallery would be open to the public, and in the past, this exhibit has been an enormous event with musicians, food, and lots of appreciation for local artists. 

However, with the COVID-19 pandemic still in effect, and the college remaining remote, the exhibit is not open in person but taking submissions from all artists and members who pay to join the gallery. 

Even though the college’s museum cannot have a complete celebration for the artists, the virtual exhibition still increases art awareness for CLC students. This is done by allowing students to view the paintings online, which can be easily accessed. 

CLC’s Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art positively encourages them to do so because many artists have been creating art their entire lives and feel very passionate about it. 

Marcia Babler, a member of the art exhibit, mentioned that she has been creating art ever since she could remember. 

She doesn’t remember a day where she wasn’t creating art, and she firmly believes that there is a lot of significance and meaning to be found in all mediums of art.

“It is important to step back and ask why an artist creates art in the first place. Personally, it is the need to communicate a message to the viewer and to involve them,” Babler said.

Babler believes that there are many elements and techniques in art that can help reach the audience and portray a message, like symbolism, color, and composition, which can be seen in her work.

Many artists have influenced Babler, inspiring her to be the artist she is today. Those people include Edward Hopper, George Tooker, Piet Mondrian, and Henry Matisse. 

“Hopper and Tooker [inspire me] because of how they powerfully capture human emotions; Mondrian and Matisse for their brilliant use of color,” Babler explained. 

She also has favorites when it comes to her own works. 

“I am proud of the mysterious mood captured in Masked Identity and Escape. With the piece Butting Heads, I like how the composition reinforces the message. Like any artwork, it requires a process.” Babler said.

That process is different for everyone, and for Cristina Chopalli, another member of the exhibition, her process is done through dreams and meditations. 

“Images come to life on my canvases through the setting of creative intentions. I find images and themes in dreams and meditations,” Chopalli says. “I allow Spirit to guide my vision, and before I know it, something meaningful reflects at me from the canvas.” 

Both students agreed that they want students to get meaning from their work. 

However, although Chopalli never imagined that she could fully express herself with paint, she now realizes that we are all creators, which is something to take advantage of and share.

“Each of us has the potential to bring beauty into this world,” Chopalli added.

Additionally, Babler and Chopalli also agreed that everybody should not be afraid to express themselves through art, as everyone has the potential to do so. It can certainly be a rewarding and fulfilling exercise once tried.

So while the pandemic has stopped people from meeting in person and celebrating art, it hasn’t stopped people from expressing themselves and doing what they love. Students, teachers, and members alike continue to create art for all the public to see.