“You need more whimsy in your life.”

This from my derby sister, who’s also been battling, since March, the cumulative effects of not blowing off steam by hitting your friends on skates.

“I need a hell of a lot more than whimsy,” I admit.

She’s not wrong. Even if you aren’t reeling from being denied the therapy that comes from an intense, full-contact sport, between the pandemic, economic hardships, the “joys” of remote learning and everything else being thrown at us in 2020, we are all in need of some good, old fashioned spirit-lifting magic.

“Have I got the spot for you!” My friend is giddy as she leads me on a brisk walk down the waterfront to the Cornell Steamboat Building, an expansive and singular space of unexpected beauty. It was the opening reception for the “Let the Good Times Roll” show at ArtPort Kingston, running now through Jan. 3.

And it’s exactly what we need right now. A place — a safe place — where we can be uplifted and transported to another dimension of delight, of whimsy, of jaw-dropping artistic expression.

ArtPort in Kingston is just such a place. When you step inside, you enter another realm. The landscape includes delicious artworks that feed our need for pleasure.

Errant gnomes, peeking out from inside dresser drawers, passed out after a night of revelry and causing other mischief, run amok “cleaning” the venue. Unusual structures in bold colors, not to be mistaken for furniture, exist in a space of optical illusion. An interactive installation poses a question — What Do You Hope For? Mixed-media pieces beckon you into vast worlds within tiny spaces. Vibrant objects linger … they remind you of something. Perhaps a long-lost feeling or something from a dream — you can’t quite put your finger on it, but it feels so good to exist in this space and experience the art saturating your soul, allowing you to forget about the gloom, even for just an afternoon.

The dynamic duo behind ArtPort Kingston are Laurie De Chiara and Stefan Saffer, artists, curators and each a creative force. “We all need a release to allow for some positive experiences to stream into our lives as we recover from the stress and intensity of the world around us,” they said of the show. “… At this current juncture of time, there exists a desire to be perked up, inspired and set free. History does repeat itself, and we always find fresh paths when presented with a challenge.”

The exhibition’s aim, they say, is to uplift while “exploring themes from escapism, beautification, immersion, sensationalism, social consciousness, domesticity and everything stimulating in between. Whether it is a good feeling, a positive memory or the here and now, it’s just a celebration of life — we always want to ‘Let the good times roll.’”

Standing among these incredible works of art, you feel life seeping back inside you. The watercolors, the fabric and fiber art, clay and epoxy, glitter, spray paint, pom poms, recycled materials, riveted steel, paracord and fake fur, textured glass, tulle and mirrors — they all combine in such a pleasing way that you will find yourself completely absorbed, with a positive feeling that lingers long after you’ve left the building.

The featured artists include mostly locals who live between five minutes and a few hours away: Becky Bailey, Beth Humphrey, Mary Tooley Parker, Sarah Lutz, Julie Hedrick, Carlos Pinto, Maxine Leu, Stuart Farmery, Aurora Abzug, Rodger Stevens, Becca Van K, Bradley Wood, Jen Kelly, Hanna Washburn, Celeste Fichter and Melanie Einzig.

“Each artist in the exhibition shares an element of openness which leads you to the unknown, so see where it takes you,” said De Chiara. “It could be meditative, contemplative, superlative or just relative. Come join us for a journey of color, texture, surprise, humor and reflection.”

Most of these artist creations were made during the time of COVID. You can feel how this pandemic has shaped and informed many of those pieces.

De Chiara and Saffer have more fun planned for their next show in February, called “Wunder.”

“It will be fun, safe, interactive and kinetic. There will be inflatable sculptures, moving parts, responsive works, light, color, projections. It will definitely pull visitors out of the dreary winter blues,” said De Chiara.

“This is important to me, with my curating, that art has the ability to transfer people and change their mood while experiencing art,” she continued. “I also feel strongly that even during COVID times, we cannot stop living. We still have to go out and do things, but the key is doing everything safely, so masked, distanced and sanitized. If we do all those things then we can still have good times.”

It’s important to note that all of the artwork experiences follow strict CDC guidelines of masks and safe distancing. They also limit the number of visitors inside at one time. “We want everyone to be safe and healthy,” said Saffer. “ArtPort’s aim is to be a destination for art experiences and unconventional interaction between contemporary art and a wide range of audiences.”

And it most certainly is.

For more info visit www.artportkingston.com, or head over to the Cornell Steamboat Building, 108 East Strand, Kingston. Open Hours: Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. The free show runs through Jan. 3, 2021.