In the social media existence that many live in, people put their thoughts, works, and ideas into the world, never knowing what will come of them.

When mixed-media artist Lori Remmel of Tamaqua posted pictures of her “Screamtime/Screentime” series on Instagram she hoped it would reflect how reality was augmented - especially during the dark times of the pandemic - by people’s reliance on their cellphones for entertainment, shopping, news and comfort.

The series struck a chord with the curators of the M.A.D.S. Gallery in Milan, Italy, and a piece of Remmel’s work is currently featured in their latest interactive, multi-media exhibition in Milan and in their sister gallery in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain.

Remmel is excited to have her piece, “Nevermind” - a wood panel with toner transfer, paint, resin and beads - as part of the exhibition.

“Because of the augmented reality and mixed reality gallery interface, there are no limitations on what art could be exhibited. It’s really pretty neat,” she says. “M.A.D.S Gallery boasts two physical locations which are set up with screens, video projectors, and touch screen monitors. Touch screen monitors allow the viewers to zoom in and enhance details of each work. It’s also equipped with the VR Oculus virtual reality viewer device to host videos and photos 3D.”

M.A.D.S. Gallery is a reference point for emerging and established artists, museums, galleries, and institutions serving a diverse international audience, and Remmel is hoping that her work there will lead to more international opportunities.

Remmel isn’t able to travel to see her work exhibited but she was able to navigate the exhibition on her television through the MADSverse, so she attended the opening reception in the comfort of her living room.

Remmel’s work is viewable at the Walk In Art Center in Schuylkill Haven, where she has a studio.

The series “ScreenTime ScreamTime” investigates the siren song of social media on our lives as it relates to connection.

To create the series, Remmel transferred screenshots from her phone onto wooden panels, which were then embellished tediously with beads and sequins, an analog representation of the pixels we see when we engage with our phones. The act of bead application reflected the time wasted on screens and fake connection.

“I wanted to make images that were meant for transience, permanent,” she says. “I wanted these phone cases to read like they were melty and hand-crafted with love and evidence of handheld toil … as they so often are.”

Remmel is a contemporary artist from Tamaqua and has a BFA in Communication Design from Kutztown University.

She has been teaching art for over 20 years at Tamaqua Area High School, and most recently as a virtual art instructor for CCA, a position she took after COVID shook the world.

To see more of her vision, please find her on the socials ART ACTION @loriremmelartist.

View much of Remmel’s work along with the other studio and associate artists of the Walk In Art Center, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 1-5 p.m.

Keep up with WIAC events, art classes, family events, and more by visiting the WIAC facebook page at facebook.com/walkinartcenter or visit walkinartcenter.org.