OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — More than 60 pieces of art on are display in a new exhibit at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center.
It is called "Resilience, Reflection, Rebuilding, Artists Respond to COVID-19."
"2020 has been full of surprises and this was just another one," said Zac Bendrick, who has two pieces of art in the new exhibit.
He loves to paint and usually is working alone. But, when his younger brother Adam came home from Kansas State University early due to the novel coronavirus, he got an idea about how to pass the time while in quarantine.
"I said, 'Hey Adam, we have a full day ahead of us. Would you like to try painting?'" Bendrick said.
They created two paintings that are now in the exhibit. Their creations are inspired by COVID-19 and the emotions that come from dealing with a pandemic.
"The idea first came from, 'OK, we can't go out. We can't do anything right now. Let's paint what we would rather do,'" Bendrick said. "We painted the live bar scene with dinner and a show."
Their paintings are among dozens of other pieces at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center in Overland Park that all focus on the virus.
"This is one of the most diverse exhibits I have ever had the privilege of working on," said Devin Graham, chief curator for the exhibit. "We have artists from all walks of life."
The artwork ranges from paintings to sculptures to photographs.
Every piece shows a different emotion COVID-19 is bringing out in people, even a bond of two brothers.
"We just kind of let our emotions go," Bendrick said. "We put it on the canvas and really just had time to think about quarantine and what it is."
All the pieces are for sale and all proceeds will go back to the artist.
The exhibit will run through January 2021. More information about the new exhibit can be found on the Johnson County Arts and Heritage website.
