A Farewell to "Tabernacles for Trying Times" by Jaime DeSimone
By Jaime DeSimone, Curator of Contemporary Art
From left to right: Carrie Moyer, Jaime DeSimone, and Sheila Pepe.
Yesterday I revisited Carrie Moyer and Sheila Pepe: Tabernacles for Trying Times. I was alone in the galleries, but surrounded by so many familiar friends—the art. For me, it’s hard to imagine the Selma Wolf Black Great Hall or the galleries without either Sheila’s sculptures or Carrie’s paintings. The objects possess the comforts of home; the artists and artwork like family. As the artists’ voices and laughter filled the galleries from a nearby monitor, my mind and body finally processed so many suppressed emotions of this exhibition’s lifecycle. The adrenaline rush of installation, in which staff and artists worked tirelessly to install challenging site-specific pieces. The joy of uniting so many significant objects by each artist for the very first time. The exhilaration of the opening reception, where new eyes marveled at the transformation from the previous N.C. Wyeth show to Tabernacles for Trying Times. It was a reunion of art, relatives, patrons, friends, and students traveling from near and far. Then, what was literally overnight, Carrie and Sheila returned to New York and we, the PMA, served as the stewards of their accomplishments. But, sadly, our role paused shortly thereafter, too. We closed our doors due to COVID-19 just before Free Friday on March 13.
Yet, our responsibility to the artists and community didn’t pause at all. In fact, our efforts multiplied. I suddenly found myself reliving the exhibition planning process. Carrie and Sheila were on speed dial and ready to participate at every turn. Within days my colleagues created new strategies to share the exhibition online, host virtual events for the accompanying Dream Action Factory program series, and spread the artists’ collaborative spirit onto every tablet, screen, and phone. These herculean efforts resulted in over 300 attendees at our virtual Nelson Social Justice Lecture. I now liken everyone’s efforts to raising a virtual barn: not one part possible without the next, each new strategy supporting and hoisting the next into position.
Was this pandemic and world of civil unjust the backdrop that Carrie, Sheila, and I originally intended for Tabernacles for Trying Times? Absolutely not. But, this week—as I countdown to its approaching closure—I found myself standing a little taller, weeping a little quieter, and being incredibly grateful. In retrospect, our closure was miraculous.