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# Painting: Portraiture (June 2021)
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[**Our Stories Written by Strangers - 2022 Exhibition**](https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/9809691/our-story-written-by-strangers-collaboration-between-emerging-artists-and)
This year DRPT-3007 Painting: Portraiture taught by Drawing and Painting Chair **Ilene Sova** partnered with **State University of New York at Geneseo** Professor [Dr. Alla Myzelev](https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/9809691/our-story-written-by-strangers-collaboration-between-emerging-artists-and) and students from the Contemporary Art and Globalization (ARTH 250) course. This unique Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) opportunity paired students with young emerging curators and museum practitioners to create an online virtual exhibition on the feeling of self in a lockdown "***Looking Out While Looking In***". The course introduced both young artists and curators to important concepts related to the practices of art such as curatorial principles, curation as a decolonizing practice, and identity in portraiture. Students received guest lectures on Contemporary Portrait Painting from Professor Myzelev as well as studio instruction on how to paint impactful portraits from Professor Sova. Most importantly, this cohort of students were taught about visual and written communication between artists and curators.
### Looking Out While Looking In
The Covid-19 pandemic had tremendous effects on all of us around the world in different ways. From struggles at home to feelings of isolation, feelings of normalcy had been dismantled. With human contact existing through a screen, the effect of this pandemic has edged many people into a position of self-reflection. This, paired with the uncertainty of looking out at the ever-changing world around them, allowed for evolving perspectives. Together OCAD U and SUNY Geneseo students developed an exhibition of self-portraits that reflects their struggles and realizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
**Curators:**Natalie Claus, Ariana Massari, Ashley Walker
**Teaching Assistant:**Azulmar Escalera
**Course Instructors:**Alla Myzelev, SUNYG and Ilene Sova, OCAD U
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[View the Virtual Exhibition Here](https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/6878311/looking-out-while-looking-in)
