The "Mettle and Mirth" exhibit at the Chippewa Valley Museum.

If there’s one group of people who have successfully found a way to pivot through the pandemic, it’s artists. “Mettle and Mirth” – a collaborative art exhibit between Artisan Forge Studios and the Chippewa Valley Museum – seeks to showcase the innovative work created by local artists who aptly display the exhibit’s title, creating brilliant pieces with “vigor and strength” and “gladness and gaiety” throughout turbulent times.

The exhibit, which is open for viewing – both in-person and virtually – through March 2, features more than 25 local artists with some connection to Artisan Forge Studios, and about 70 pieces of artwork, according to Museum Educator Karen Jacobson.

A virtual artist reception will be Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 6:30pm-8:00pm. (Find out more here.)

Eau Claire artist Jason Anhorn (who created the three oil paintings here) is one of more than 25 artists whose work is on display.

“We have a little bit of everything,” said guest curator Christy Skuban: colored pencil, metalwork, painting, fiber art, sculpture, wall construction, photography, cardboard sculptures, woodworking – even collage work. “This is a big deal!” Skuban said.

The exhibit will also include several live events, which will be livestreamed from the museum, where artistic duo Wendy and Kevin Schaefer-Miles will create live art in under an hour and a half. “He’ll take one side of the canvas, and she takes the other,” Skuban said, “and they talk, and they laugh. They call it ‘Friday date night.’ ” MingXin Chinese Cultural Exchange plans to do a live tea ceremony. The exhibit is in tandem with the museum’s annual Folk Arts Festival, which will be fully virtual from Saturday, Feb. 20 through Tuesday, March 2.

For more information, and to check out the exhibits, visit cvmuseum.com.