Hundreds of works of art, created over the past few months of living under the lockdown, have gone on display.

The Hodgson Loom Gallery in Laxey opened the ’Creativity in Adversity’ exhibition on Saturday, which features more than 200 pieces of art created by both professional and amateur artists over the months where most of the island’s population were asked to stay at home.

Work from painters and multi-media artists, such as Frauke Watson, Collette Davis, Pauline Berry, Colleen Corlett, Gary Bennett and Felicity Wood, amongst many others, stands on display alongside driftwood sculptures, wood carvings, clay and pottery works, and animal studies.

The exhibition is due to remain up at the gallery for the foreseeable future and gallery curator Julia Ashby Smyth said she will be adding to the wall and shelves throughout the exhibition, as pieces get sold and new pieces come in.

The ’Lockdown Art’ exhibition is the first event held at the gallery since Julia was forced to shut the doors mid-way through March.

She said that, when she decided to hold the exhibition, she wasn’t sure what to expect with regards to the general theme and tone of the work.

’You couldn’t help but wonder would the work be dark, depressing and full of worry of artists feeling the isolation. But there is so little of that,’ said Julia.

’Generally the pieces of bright, joyful, colourful and, on the whole, very positive.

’I think that most people have found the time to stop and think and really enjoy their art.

’Also, it looks like people have had more time to enjoy nature, which has transferred itself into the art work.

’I think, maybe, that some of the darker work may come through later, when people have had more time to reflect. I could be wrong through.’

In the midst of the current times, all exhibitions at the gallery have been moved to 2021, which left the future of the gallery in an uncertain state.

’Our gallery closed only three weeks into our biosphere exhibition,’ said Julia.

’That was such a shame as it was going so well. I have never seen the gallery so busy.

’It was wonderful, very creative and so vibrant with all the colours of the work and the crafts being demonstrated. The workshops were very popular. To close in the midst of all that was very sad.

’Basically without people walking into the gallery and buying pieces of art, there is no money coming into the gallery, and we simply didn’t know if we would be able to open again this year.

’However, we thought we would offer the space for anyone who has been creating their own works of art throughout the lockdown period, and there is just so much creativity out there.’

The Lockdown Art exhibition will remain open until the late autumn.

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers