WARREN — Doing the TAG Annual, Trumbull Art Gallery’s juried exhibition, didn’t make sense during a pandemic.

Gallery Chair William Mullane said, “People have to bring their work in. They have to come back if it isn’t chosen. A juror has to come in. There are entry fees, exchanging money. It didn’t seem fair to anyone.”

In its place, TAG is presenting a member exhibition, a nonjuried show in which all participating artists were allowed to submit two pieces and were encouraged to submit items created during the COVID-19 pandemic. The show opening Friday features more than 60 works by 37 area artists.

“I actually think the show is just as strong,” Mullane said. “The only thing missing is there wasn’t someone picking and rejecting. It’s been fun to hang. I kept the two pieces together but grouped them sort of thematically and tried to find relationships (between the artists’ works).”

Only a couple of pieces directly address the coronavirus. Kathy Lepro created a fabric art bride who, along with her white dress and veil, also has a matching face mask. Jacki Mountan combined hospital-issue face masks and crochet pieces for a work titled “To Do or Not to Do.” And for what has been a dark time for many people, the show is filled with vibrant, colorful work.

“I kind of expected that because we’re still living with COVID,” Mullane said. “It takes four or five months of living in a pandemic to have the wherewithal to address it. What we did hear a lot from people is, ‘I’m doing more work than I have in a long while.'”

Mullane can attest to that first hand. Mullane constantly creates on an electronic tablet wherever he is, but it had been 14 years since he painted in a studio. Not having to commute to Ashtabula County for work and doing meetings for the many boards he serves on via Zoom, he started painting again and has created 10 works since March, two of which are in the show.

“For me it’s kind of joyous,” he said. “All of the sudden I had this newfound time. The first few felt stiff and tentative, but now I’m getting more comfortable.”

Participating artists include Jacquelyn Bader, Diane Beatty, Suzanne L. Brown, Beth Carson, Patty Cleary-Talstein, Debbie Gold, Elaine Green, Barbara Haake, Kim Hunter, Kathryn Infante, John Johnson, Leanne Lee, John Lees, Kathy Lepro, Jacki Mountan, Jean Nye, Edward O’Malley, Mary Pilgram, Jeffrey S. Piper, Terry Polonsky, Lynne Provance, Ruby Ramsey, Yasmin Rashid, Susan Senvissky, Stephanie Sferra, Gary Taneri, Judy Waid, Marty Young and Mullane.

In addition two his two pieces in the show, Lees also did a portrait of artist and former Youngstown State University professor Al Bright, who died last year. It is displayed alongside two of Bright’s paintings.

“John was really methodical about his background, using the colors of African-American studies and the colors of American studies to represent (Bright’s) feet in the American art world and his founding of the black studies program at YSU. He was a real pioneer.”

Two artists, Pete Vouvounas and Ron Krygowski, have focus exhibits on display in TAG’s main window.

Because of social distancing restrictions, there won’t be an opening reception for the TAG Member Exhibition, and gallery hours still are limited to noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and by appointment.

“That’s one of the reason I started putting exhibitions in the window,” Mullane said. “They’re open 24 / 7. We installed lights, so the lights are on all night and people at least can have a small show if they’re just on the street.”