This was an exhibition opening like no other - but fun. Covid-19 rules, decreed by the Palma Town Hall, meant a strict limit on people in the gallery at one time, no wine, no social gathering, so Marisa Aldeguer, the owner of MA ArteContemporaneo, solved the problem wonderfully and creatively

At the entrance, almost like an installation, bamboo poles, green and golden, leaned against the door. All cut two meters in length, they were numbered. As each person entered the gallery, suitably masked, they took one of these poles to measure distance between people (although not much of that was done!) and when there were none remaining, the gallery was full. Only when a pole was returned could someone else enter. We all became shepherds of our creative flock!

Gallery visitors and the stack of bamboo poles for distancing and counting (image courtesy of M. Aldeguer)

Artists Javier, Jeannine and Maria Fernanda (image courtesy of M. Aldeguer)

Early visitors to the exhibition opening (photograph J. Cook)

Good to have your pole to lean on when contemplating a work of art! (photograph J. Cook)

The exhibition had grown in size and confinement had been productive. There was a wide variety of media and each artist had reflected an intensity born of long hours in lockdown. An interesting mix.

We do live on an island with sea around us to paint! (photograph J. Cook)

Another part of the gallery. (photograph J. Cook)

Jeannine, by my silverpoint drawings, suitably masked in Mallorcan Llengües fabric! (photograph M.F. de Andres Pardo)

Jeannine, by my silverpoint drawings, briefly unmasked. (photograph M.F. de Andres Pardo)