ArtHeals 2025

CURATOR’S STATEMENT

Our ArtHeals exhibition has become one of our most impactful shows, as it deals with something that intersects and effects humanity across all demographics: the intersection of creativity and wellness. It’s no secret that art, creating it or experiencing it, can help maintain and improve our physical and emotional well being. With this in mind and with guidance from Sherri Jacobs of Heartland Art Therapy, the exhibition focuses on the practice of Social Prescribing, a therapy method that, instead of asking “what’s the matter with you,” asks “What matters to you?”

This year, we had a record number of applicants (over 100), which tells us that this topic is especially important to folks right now. In this show, artists responded to the prompt “What matters to you?” You’ll see that some look to music or nature. Some focus on their interpersonal relationships, or their relationship with themselves and their own bodies. For others, just the act of making art or expressing themselves is what’s important. I hope that, by immersing yourself in this show, you, too, will take time to focus on and better understand the things that matter most to you.

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Wolfe Brack Artistic Director InterUrban ArtHouse

A WORD FROM SHERRI JACOBS ON SOCIAL PRESCRIBING

Sherri Jacobs, Art Therapist, MS, LCMFT, MA, ATR Founder of Heartland Art Therapy

Can you imagine a future where your doctor will offer a prescription to microdose an art experience or visit a museum for improved health outcomes? This new endeavor is known as social prescribing and has already been formally implemented into health systems in over thirty countries. Our current art show entitled ArtHeals: What Matters to You? is designed to start this conversation at InterUrban. What is mental wellness? How do we address the mental health and loneliness crisis? As research supporting the mental and physical health benefits of creative engagement emerges, InterUrban ArtHouse’s initiative is answering these questions in a meaningful way as it continues to be an intentional place of art and healing.

Performances related to this exhibition are generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Our exhibition sponsor for our 2025 rotation is provided by the Health Forward Foundation. Health Forward supports and builds communities where racial equity and fair access to health are the norm.

SPONSORSHIP

ABIMALEC BARRERASTORRES

www.allisonbowman.com @Artbyabimalec

Abimalec Barreras is an American graphic artist whose work focuses on social consciousness. His work is created in Photoshop and Illustrator and is exhibited in local galleries, poster form, and online. His process of artmaking consists of utilizing photographic references and juxtaposing photomontages, and digital sketching. His technique is influenced by artists like Shepard Fairey, Roy Liechtenstein, and James Jean. He utilizes a dynamic color palette within his vector-like imagery. His work commences by considering social issues that affect him and the world around him.

Song of Songs Mixed media collage 8.5 x 5.5" $100

LVke Mixed media collage 8.5 x 5.5" $100

John Mixed media collage 8.5 x 5.5" $100

ALEX SEQUEIRACOSTA

@jcds_emerging_artists FB: JCDSEmergingArtists

"Comedy Elephant" is just one example of the many characters that inhabit Alex’s whimsical world. His magical style brings anthropomorphic animals to life, dressing them in vibrant outfits and placing them in delightfully unexpected scenarios. An avid sketchbook artist, Alex is constantly drawing, crafting a kinder, more imaginative world—one we are lucky to escape into when given the chance. He works with the JCDS Emerging Artists at the JoCo Arts & Heritage Center, sharing his creativity and unique vision with the community.

Comedy Elephant 8"x8" Acrylic on Canvas $75

AMANDA JOLLEY @AMANDAJOLLEY Diving below the liminal threshold into the subconscious, the creation of these works relied upon the knowledge held in the physical body. In the process, the inner language was fleshed out through symbols and line-work. The end results of the process are abstractions of a dialogue between extrapolated meaning and the observations embedded in my subconscious. This dialogue comes forth as layer upon layer of paint is laid. These layers build on each other as the subconscious is allowed a voice. The final revealed layer does not interpret the findings in dialogue, rather it reflects a stopping point in the inner conversation. Hints of the intuitive exchange can often be found by gazing into the paintings. What matters to me is the process of allowing the flow to reveal inner truths that encourage deeper understanding of self and personal growth.

Both And 9x12 inch acrylic and paper $350

Evocation 9x12 inch acrylic $350

Posthumous 9x12 inch acrylic and paper $350

AMY WILSON WWW.ACORNACORN.COM

front & back

Web of Seven Sisters Pencil, Japanese Watercolor, Menstrual Blood, Paper, Yarn, Dried Okra Stalk 32”W x 19”H $333

I am deeply interested in the power of our fundamental beliefs and how that influences our psyche and our lives. I believe our unconscious wounds and internal stories are the bedrock of our reality. As we unearth and make conscious our own pain, we have the opportunity to acknowledge and heal our broken parts. Ultimately becoming more whole and embodied; we can then hold a diversity of perspectives and become more capable, resilient individuals. Art is an introspective gateway to explore our inner landscapes, characters, and stories; a treasure trove waiting to be seen and alchemized. I am fascinated by the invitation to craft new narratives and identities for ourselves that are built on deeper levels of love, acceptance, and empowerment. I hope the healing I have found through these art alchemy journeys is infused in each painting, activating your own inner unconscious realms to seek liberation.

ANDI BRAY

@artistandibray

In my body of work, I utilize an abstract impressionist style to explore nature and how it relates to the human condition – each often a mirror for the other. Similar to us; nature is strong and yet delicate. My use of vibrant acrylic hues and soft movement welcomes the viewer for a moment of rest and reflective energy.

The Dive 20"x20"x1.5" Acrylic on canvas $450

ANDREA DUBBERT

@jcds_emerging_artists FB: JCDSEmergingArtists

Andrea draws. That is what she does. Using pencil, ink, or paint pens, Andrea finds peace in methodically capturing colorful representations of the world around her. The careful geometric interpretation of organic shapes builds as she focuses on each piece for an average of a month or two at a time. Andrea creates whenever possible but can most easily be found committedly working in her community studio with Johnson County Developmental Supports Emerging Artists at the Arts and Heritage Center.

Andrea Dubbert

Birthday Bouquet 8"x10" Acrylic on Canvas $250

ANN MORRISON

”Moving On”relates to my move this fall and being surrounded by boxes and paper for weeks. This inspired a pencil drawing.The drawing almost created itself transforming into a new home. It wasn’t just the packing… it was a fresh start, a literal and emotional moving on.

Moving on 14 by 11 Acrylic $100.00

AUDREY ENOCHS @bubonicstonics

Sculpture is something I fall in love with every time I sit down to do, it enthralls me no matter how many times I have done it. So no wonder I turned to sculpture to vent out my feelings of the whole thing.

Divine Beast Bass wood, fairy lights, plastic lens NFS

BRAD FRIEDMAN @JCDS_EMERGING_ARTISTS FB: JCDSEMERGINGARTISTS Brad is a prolific artist influenced by popular culture and the mysterious beauty of the world around him. Creating paintings for people to enjoy has served as a lifelong passion and source of peace through connection. He prides himself on his ability to render any subject but find joy in created imagined landscapes and alternate worlds. For more than 7 years Brad has found an artistic home at the Johnson County Developmental Supports Emerging Artists Studio. In Flight to Empath Brad has created one of these worlds that asks where we are going and are we going together.

Andrea Dubbert

Flight to Empath 8"x10" Acrylic on Canvas $70

CARLEIGH LA VOY Carleigh is passionate about sharing her love for art with any curious observer. With a love for exploring new techniques, Carleigh's artistic journey is marked by a constant quest for innovation that she works to share with those around her. Last summer she taught a sold-out series of classes at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center in which she imparted marbling techniques to individuals of all ages, and she hopes to schedule more soon. As she continues to push boundaries and explore new horizons, Carleigh's artistic journey is a celebration of resilience, determination, and the profound impact of creativity in overcoming challenges. Spirit study is a rare example of Carleigh’s more abstract work which highlights the joy she finds in exploration. You can discover more of her work at the Johnson County Developmental Supports Emerging Artists.

@jcds_emerging_artists FB: JCDSEmergingArtists

Spirit Study 8"x10" Acrylic on Canvas $70

CLARIECE KIRKWOOD @siriusly_art

Vivid Exhale 24x36 inches $950

My portraits are vibrant expressions of my inner world, a kaleidoscope of emotions and thoughts that swirl together in a dance of color and light. As I create, I am reminded of the power of art to keep me grounded and present, a tangible representation of the intangible emotions that shape me.

Through my pieces, I hope to share the healing power of creativity and self expression as that is what matters to me.

In the Vivid Shadow Oil pastel on canvas 24x30 inches $1,200

CONNIE CRAMER CREEK @CONNIE.CREEK From my first exercise in blind contour drawing I realized that making art provided a means for me to shift my attention away from the usual/endless cycle of thoughts. Art making allows me to “go away for a while” and I always come back refreshed. For me, this same kind of relief can also be found in dance and music. My mixed media painting, 33 1/3, pays homage to the pleasure and healing we find when getting lost in music and find ourselves moving in response. In the ceramic work, Hokusai Goes Fishing, I entertain myself with a fantasy of the famous printmaker plunging into his Great Wave on the deck of a tin wind-up boat like the ones I collect. Luckily, Art can heal through humor, memory, music, action and more!

33 1/3 RPM 36 x 36 x 1 Acrylc and fabric on canvas $800

Hokusai Goes Fishing Sgrafitto underglaze on stoneware 7" X 4" X 7" $650.00

@CynthiaRogersArt Learning to cope with a devastating loss brought me face to face with grief. It was an emotion I did not know how to accept or navigate. Through learning a mindfulness approach to Sitting with difficult feelings I began to accept the humanity of my experience and dissolve the shame I had tied to my loss and grief. In making this series, I began a conscious, external integration of this practice. They are "notes to self" as I do not claim mastery.

Cry For Help 2' x 2' Mixed media assemblage $1200

DAVID MORRIS

www.dmdakc.com

Whisky Go Go abstract digital art on watercolor paper 44x44 $2450.00

"For decades, I navigated the structured world of advertising photography. Yet, the improvisational spirit of jazz, a lifelong passion, beckoned me towards a new artistic expression. This journey, born from retirement, sees me translating the raw energy of jazz – its melodies, harmonies, and emotions – into abstract digital art. Pixel by pixel, I explore the interplay of light, shadow, and color, creating visual echoes of the music that ignites my soul.

Dyslexia, once a challenge, now serves as a unique lens, allowing me to express the torrent of emotions within me through vibrant geometries and spontaneous rhythms. My hope is that these visual improvisations will resonate with you, inviting you to discover the shared heartbeat of art and improvisation – a dance of chaos and cohesion where the unexpected takes flight."

ELISE WALKER My work takes inspiration from my own inner world, using color, shape, and texture to illustrate my state of mind at the time of creation. Mental health often takes center stage, using the process of art making as therapy and way of making sense of the world and myself. In moments of darkness, it is art that shines light on what truly matters - joy in times of grief, human connections, expressing and living our own truth. What matters to me, right now, is taking care of my loved ones, taking care of myself, and not letting the darkness in. Through painting, I am allowing the light to lead the way.

My Love, We Will Protect You 10" x 10" x 1.5 acrylic on wood panel $225

@EKW.ART.STUDIO

Internal Landscape 02 acrylic on wood panel 8" x 8" x 1" $200

Internal Landscape 01 acrylic on wood panel 8" x 8" x 1" $200

Rows and Flows Acrylic on hard board panel 35" x 35" x 1.5" $575

GLORIA GALE GLORIAGALEARTIST.COM

I breathe in when I begin painting - then out when I feel that I've done the best I could.

Painting demands my attention and allows me the freedom to choose color and composition, design and topic.

I know when a painting feels right and I can continue down the path.

It's a matter of attention and expression. How many other fields allow this type of personal choice. I'm delighted to be an artist.

Moody Blues 18 x 20 Acrylic and Ink $199

GRACE WINKLER @gracewinklart

I am an artist in college who explores the importance and beauty in human connections.

The pieces "I know it well" and "What can you say" are my visualizations of the songs "Blood Bank" by Bon Iver and "What can you say" by Adrianne Lenker. They are reminiscent of an emotional bond between humans which can only be felt deep within your chest.

I know it well 20x20 Acrylic on canvas $450

JACK RODRIGUEZ I am an artist who’s work delves into satirical and macabre themes. This piece is a physical representation of what it’s like experiencing sensory overload, anxiety and living with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). The three skulls are conjoined together, and the meaning behind said skulls is what sensory overload (in artist’s interpretation) would look like in physical form: distorted and fractured. The barbed wire attached to the sculpture represents the painful and constricted sensation when someone with ASD experiences sensory overload, which could escalate into a meltdown, and, eventually, a burnout.

"Sensory Overload; Haywire."

2.5ft x 1.5ft Casted aluminum, iron and sandstone. $400

JANELLE CRAWFORD-HINE @janellabeestudio

In the last few years, I have been on a journey of transformation, focusing on validating the depths of my emotions and healing by rebuilding a stronger relationship to myself.

From a young age, I have felt true peace only in nature. Modern life and responsibility has made that connection more difficult to maintain. As a new mother, I explored overwhelming feelings of isolation and hopelessness.

Soon after this, I began introspective exploration and reconnection with nature with the aid of the tarot. “The Sun” and “The Moon” symbolize releasing old narratives and manifesting new intentions.

Bison Linolem cut "x16" Framed I$350

The Sun Linoleum Cut 8"x10" framed $125

The Moon 8"x10" Framed Linoleum Cut $125

JENN BRAKE

I have utilized creative outlets of many forms throughout my life for the purpose of self expression and self preservation. I make art because I am compelled to do so. It is a way to contain difficult feelings. Even joyful emotions can be too much to process in the moment. A few years ago I started making NeuroArt. It is a practice that helps to heal damaged neuropathways and can even assist in creating new neural connections. Making strong neural lines gives my work a structure for containing the runoff of my emotional intensity. My art practice is my constant companion and I approach my work with an open mind and heart, so that deeper truths may present themselves to myself and the external world.

Untamed Acrylic and gel ink 12x18 $300.00

Repurposed Watercolor and acrylic 12x12 $250.00

JOHA BISONE WWW.JOHABISONE.COM @JOHAHAHA What matters to me has always been trying my best to maintain a consistent studio practice.

I find it essential to my daily life and mental health. I try to work in studio every day, whatever time allows, whether it's for 5 minutes or all night. If I can’t be in the studio then I keep a running dialogue in my head as to what I want to do next on the pieces I’m working on.

I never really know how the end piece will look, it is like a puzzle to figure out. I can’t stop until it's solved! Figuring out compositions, color relationships, space, movement are all factors that I love to play around with. Painting and drawing helps me process the world around me but it also lets me dive far from that reality, getting lost in mark making and brush strokes, creating my own brightly colored surreal landscapes. Knowing that the possibilities are endless in what can be created also keeps me excited and inspired!

Succession 22x30 inches acrylic ink, conte crayons, and soft pastels $500

JULIA VERING @expressive_arts_therapykc & www.unicornsinthesnow.com What matters to me is access to expressive arts in long-term care settings. I am sharing a short excerpt of my upcoming documentary funded by Charlotte Street Foundation Rocket Grants, Movies Reimagined, which highlights a unique social prescription program I have facilitated in over 40 + long-term care communities in the KC area with over 500 residents participating. The residents and I reimagine popular movies via improv, creating laughter, inclusion, agency, fun, and connections for all involved.

KATARINA HILL Katarina Hill is a student at UMKC pursuing a Studio Art degree with the goal of working in secondary education. As a queer person, showing her love for her friends with the love language - touch - is complicated by the potential misinterpretation of affection between friends.

The work Platonic Love is meant to shed light on this anticipatory concern by coming together with a friend who shares the sentiment in a tight embrace that is framed over the torso to focus on the love expressed between two friends. Maintaining deep and thoughtful relationships - platonic, romantic, and familial - in all areas of her life is something that will always take precedence for her.

Platonic Love 22” x 28” Acrylic N/A

KATHI ROSENBERG

We all know by now that nobody gets through life unscathed. Creating things of beauty by combining gorgeous fabrics and colors is a balm for my soul. When I achieve a pleasing result, I feel an almost mystical joy - an uplifting - as if my inner essence has been expressed through the melding and intensity of color. To be able to share this beauty with others - to be able to bring out positivity in those who view my art - is an additional and continuing source of joy!

Secret Passageway | 66x54 | Fabric | Not for sale

KAYLA TRAXEL

@K_TRAX

What matters to me is the act of making—of preserving a moment, honoring the past, or simply allowing myself to exist within the work. Some pieces are meditations on loss and remembrance, others are acts of joy or selfreclamation. Each creation reflects an ongoing dialogue between control and surrender, permanence and change.

In art, I find connection—to myself, to others, and to something greater than the tangible. It is a reminder that even in fragmentation, there is wholeness, and even in impermanence, there is meaning.

Once Delivered 19" x 19" postage stamps collage, acrylic paint $500

KELLY MEINERS, PHD

Tidal Surrender Acrylic, oil pastel and charcoal on canvas 24x24 $370

Hopes Acrylic, oil pastel on canvas 8x8 $125

Untitled Acrylic, oil pastel on paper 12x9 $160

Overnight a mild case of COVID-19 left me with both physical and cognitive disabilities. I was previously an associate professor and Program Director of the Rockhurst University department of Physical Therapy and Exercise Science. I exercised daily, was extremely healthy and was very involved in the Kansas City community and as a mom of my 3 kids. Even though I was diagnosed with meningitis and encephalitis from COVID, local physicians had never seen a case of Long COVID as severe as mine so they deemed it psychosomatic in nature. During the year that it took while waiting to be treated at the Mayo Clinic, I was 100% bedridden with constant severe migraines and seizures, unable to walk, talk, or tolerate any light or sound. I was in severe pain and isolated from my former life and family. I had lost most of my long term memory, so was confused as to who I was and often frightened by visual and auditory hallucinations. During this time, using art supplies that were hidden in my bedroom closet belonging to my children, I began painting abstract images mirroring colors and emotions felt during this period of extreme loss. Unable to hold a paintbrush because of severe tremors and lack of fine motor skills, I used a shower squeegee and just one stroke would result in a severe seizure and weeks of fatigue which made even laying in bed difficult. Going forward I would dream about my next stroke on the canvas, giving me something to look forward to.

Groundhog Day Acrylic on Canvas 12x16 NFS

Unraveled Realities Acrylic, oil pastel on canvas 8x8 $125

KINDRA BACK

@INHISIMAGEFINEART

I have this beauty obsession and it's by design. I believe its to lead me to the ultimate source of Beauty expressed visually and in the soul. I create with Holy Spirit and trust Him to release healing of heart, mind, and body, and reveal light and truth through my art (Psalm 19). Each painting comes with an individual prophetic word, Scripture or prayer to encourage your heart into the love of Jesus. My prayer is that you hear the whispers of God through my art. He speaks to us in so many ways!

Beyond Words 36x36in Acrylic $510

LAUREL DEFREECE

@LAUREL DEFREECE ARTIST

Andrea Dubbert

Hole in the Wall 24x24 Encaustic, photography, oils $1000

LESLIE SULLIVAN

There is a park a few steps from where I live. Walking in the park with the beautiful trees, ducks and geese, and a lone heron in the pond, reminds me to take a deep breath. Being in nature is healing. This primitive hooked rug is titled, "Arbor Dance".

Arbor Dance 12x22 inches Primitive hooked rug Silent auction item

LINDA KRAMER @LINDA.KRAMER49

“Chaos: Equanimity” serves as a metaphor of hope for the United States, illustrating how division can coexist with order. Kramer’s rich, explorative, and intuitive process art embraces unpredictability while striving for unity, even when the subject matter is disconcerting.

At first, “Chaos: Equanimity” was a collection of lifeless shapes, values, and lines without order or balance. The challenge of transforming this disorder into harmony became an engaging, unpredictable journey. In the end, the layering of values and the directional flow of lines—placed within a yin-yang symbol and divided by a bold red-orange curve—create a visually compelling and thoughtprovoking experience for the viewer.

Chaos: Equanimity 12" x 12" Mixed Media: India Ink and Colored Pencil $250

LISA ERVIN

@lisaervindesign lisaervindesign.com

My mixed-media process involves layering photographs, patterned papers, and personal ephemera onto the canvas.

Through intuitive rounds of painting and sanding, I respond to emerging forms and textures, adding paper and sometimes personal ephemera. My mixed-media paintings explore how ordinary forms—a delicate flower, a human figure, a dilapidated building— can symbolize the human journey: enduring hardship, experiencing renewal, and evolving into new versions of ourselves.

The worn, weathered surfaces I create symbolize resilience and transformation, but more than that, the process itself is where I find peace, joy, and healing.

Awakening 24" x 36" Mixed Media: paper, ephemera, adhesive, acrylic and oil paint on canvas $950

LISA HEALEY

WWW.LISAHEALEY.COM @LISAWILDHEALEY

Pain can be just as much of a barrier to being part of your community or friends group as any physical barrier. I have been back in a bad cycle of migraines. So much I am missing! There are times of the day that are better than others.

But I don't know when the last time was that I didn't have a headache that stopped me in my tracks at some point during the day. I spent my previous Thanksgiving in the hospital and at present am going in to the infusion center to get what they call a migraine cocktail of 8 medications, and does not include a party. I hope this sculpture speaks to people about understanding the isolation that pain can bring to people and reach out when you know someone is suffering.

P*atient: A*dam I*ssac N*elson 16"x16"x16" Clay, wire, paper, metal, syringes (needles removed) plastic wrist band $500

LIZ SMITH @lizsmithstudio

The work I make is a collection of visual information I encounter in my day to day life. I feel that there is beauty peeking through all the piles along my path. Piles of ephemera that become my vocabulary and reflective of the chaos I’m feeling internally. The newest works are more literal in symbolism, such as masks that distort emotion and objects that remind me of particular places and spaces. I am interested in allowing myself to expose more obvious parts of my story and lean into this arranged nostalgia..

www.lizsmithart.com

BRAINROT | ACRYLIC ON PAPER | 15 X 22 | $1,300

LORRIE BOYDSTON @LORRIEBOYDSTON.COM

The creative process is most important to me. I need to have the freedom to express my own ideas about life, experiences and emotions. I need the freedom to experiment, freedom to play, and freedom to be me. Art provides a voice for my thoughts as I process the world around me. Creativity is a true gift. It provides a safe place to escape, exist, and shelter from the storms of life.

My Turn 5x5 Acrylic and paper collage on archival paper board $175

The Writing on the Wall 5x5 Acrylic and paper collage on archival paper board $175

Galaxy photography 11"x17"

LORRIE EIGLES @LORRIEEIGLES

Circle Home Acrylic Paint Markers on Black Paper 12" x 9" $250

Creating art is extremely important to me and has been throughout my life. The artistic process allows me to tap into the "flow" of my creativity, emotions and thoughts to make abstract art that is authentic and unfiltered. I love the brilliant colors, the intriguing mark making and the informal symmetry of my images. My art makes me happy when I feel very low. My intention is to lift the spirits and inspire my viewers as well, Circle Home Acrylic Paint Black especially duringMarkers theseonvery Paper stressful 17" xand 13" xconfusing 1 3/4" (framed) times.$300

MADISON BOUCHER @m4dison.boucher When I paint, it is an escape. A diary entry, reflective of the deepest parts of me and how I view the world. It is a mirror of the things that I love and that I long for; the meaningful and emotional parts of life that many may consider mundane. What matters to me and what I long for is unconditional love and acceptance; a sense of purpose and belonging. I’ve discovered that what truly matters to me is a reconnection to my child-like self. She is playful, artistic, courageous, passionate and not afraid to make mistakes. The world is her oyster, eager to receive her gifts.

In My Feelings 16x20 Oil $320

Slow Blinks Acrylic 11x14 $295

MANCLE ANDERSON @fog.modern modernfog.com My work is play or meditation or therapy. All three on a good day. It’s exciting to just start with a big move and see where it goes, what reveals itself. Things can go awry pretty quickly when I start thinking that I'm in charge so there’s freedom in turning off the brain, tuning in to something deeper.

That sounds pretentious but it’s really just a way to describe what makes me happy.

This is my version of fun and I love to share it with others.

Peace. Love. Happiness.

Mancle Anderson / Modern Fog

The Hero was tired and a bit confused.

Mixed Media acrylic and paper on panel 48" x 48" $1,000

MAURA COLEMAN Through this work, I find solace, balance, and a quiet dialogue with those who came before me— women who stitched out of necessity, out of love, and out of a desire to create something lasting from what was available. In my hands, quilting becomes both a meditative act and a metaphor for resilience, adaptation, and the endless possibilities that arise when we embrace the unexpected.

Blue/Yellow 35x44 Fiber/hand stitched quilt 1,000

MELANIE NOLKER

Melanienolkerart.com

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Coming out of several months of life with a high concentration on death and dying, I found myself before a large canvas exploring feelings of great loss. Several days of black and white and neutral colors eventually gave way to bold color blocking from which a portrait of Iris Apfel in all her splendid glory eventually emerged.

The healing I felt was surprising. It was a needed and welcome blessing.

Iris Apfel 40x30 Acrylic $2200

MICAEL ELROD Grief I or For The Collective 36x37” Fabric, thread, wallpaper, dye marker on canvas $1200

Grief II or For My Mothers 36”w x 17”d x 23”h Fabric, willow caning, faux fur, thread, papier mache, paper clay, glue, wire, beads, natural found stick, acrylic, dye marker, foil $1800

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MICAEL ELROD If there is a feeling that best describes the past year of my life it would be immense grief. I am mourning personally and with the collective.

Personally, the sudden and unexpected death of my mother and its effect on our family; grappling with that unraveling and my past, present, and future relationship with my family without our matriarch. Collectively mourning the people of Palestine, Sudan, the DRC, and all oppressed people as well as our planet herself.

The pieces I am creating for consideration are a reflection on that grief as well as a channel to release it, to talk about it, and to inspire work towards collective care. My art practice has supported me through my grief this year, giving me goals to work towards both for myself and for community and is a major (if not the main) contributor to my healing

MONICA DOMINGUEZ

In the Morning I'll Be Better 48"x60" Acrylic paint on stretched canvas $5000

@monica.g.dominguez Painting serves as a therapeutic outlet, allowing me to physically and visually express emotions that words often fail to capture. Working on a large scale provides the freedom of expansive movement. This process of creation becomes a way of sublimating and transforming complex inner experiences into something tangible. Each piece becomes a visual language for the emotions I navigate, a form of release, and a reflection of my ongoing journey of selfexpression. As I work, I am reminded that sometimes we must experience total darkness to witness the ephemeral beauty of being human.

NANCY TILSON-MALLETT www.nancytilson-mallett.com My visual limitations (due t0 glaucoma) have taught me to look beyond the surface, allowing me to connect more deeply with the essence of the human experience. These challenges have also instilled in me a sense of patience, allowing me to listen closely and recognize the subtleties in our interaction. As I am unable to drive, I've cultivated a vibrant community around my home and studio practice.

Interconnections | Acrylic on canvas, collage of diatom images | $300.00 | 14" x 14"

NETTIE ZAN NETTIEZAN.COM

This painting, "A Ritual for Transmuting the Pain/Body into Presence", is not meant to be intellectually analyzed, but instead is meant to be completely felt. My current body of work is about reconnecting our primal feelings to our current awareness. Dive in.

"A Ritual for Transmuting the Pain/Body into Presence" 30"x30" acrylic, ink and marker on canvas $500

NICOLE EMANUEL The children around us and in all of us, need selfdetermination to imagine what-could-be. Inside us, our imagination must be free to see our new ways forward.

www.nicoleemanuelstudios.com

Childish 9’x11 ‘ Acrylic $5000

RENEE WETZEL @reneejenart

I have been creating art since I could hold a pencil, and it allows me to express my inner thoughts and feelings as words cannot. My goal is to invite the viewer into the surreal, fantastical way I often view the world.

I made “Peace” to express the wave of warmth felt during a particularly peaceful prayerful moment.

Peace 4"x4"x.75" Acrylic Paint on Canvas $50

ROGER THOMPSON

I typically like to make use of old and used materials. Their textures and reusage seem to be almost a preference. New materials are okay as well. My scrap wood pieces keep getting smaller and finally I can toss them away but for this gig they are still being used to design a bas art piece. Someone sent me a reclaimed old growth forest piece used at the time of the Civil War in cotton factories along the Connecticut River. I could not resist sawing it apart and reassembling it, retaining the old textures for new life.

ScrapWood Bas relief #1, 18"x 12" x1 ¾" Various soft wood scraps, Titebond III glue $690

RYAN SIKES @jcds_emerging_artists FB: JCDSEmergingArtists

A Wisp of an Idea Straight pins, thread Ryan is a man of ritual and order. Stuck in Place is an 4 feet idea collage of morning rituals. Much of Ryan’s work in 250

the last year has turned away from one subject to more broadly represent fluid thought processes. Though seemingly sporadic this composition, with blocky color and bold lines, creates its own system of organization that reflects Ryans brain and creative process of flow.

Though a very ordered person, when he sits down to create, he allows the work to just appear without a plan or preliminary sketches. The composition just comes.

This time of release through creation is Ryan’s therapy.

Stuck In Place 20"x24" Acrylic on Canvas $425

SARA TAYLORHINDS

Second Time Around Embroidery thread, textile $200

I feel we all need more love at the moment with all that's going on right now.

Red White and Blue textile-found objects 4x7 $200

1889 textile-found objects 3x7 $150

SARAH DOWELL My art whispers secrets in the language of flowers, their vibrant hues amplified against the stark canvas of darkness.

Each bloom, each carefully chosen color, speaks volumes— not just of its own inherent symbolism, but of the complex emotions that flicker within us all. Like stars in the night, feelings, no matter how delicate or intense, find expression even in the deepest shadows. My work is a celebration of this quiet communication, a testament to the power of intent, and a belief that even the most passive expression can illuminate the soul. I weave together flora, fauna, and the potent language of color to create visual poems that resonate with the unspoken.

Living Complexity 11 x 14 Soft Pastel $75

Enduring Earth 11x14 Soft Pastel $75

Vibrant Life Soft Pastel 11x16 $75

SHARON SULLIVAN @sharonsulli

What matters to me is to be creative and be open to new ideas and perspectives.

My art helps me to do this. I start by applying color and then mark making which leads me to the expression of my heart felt thoughts and feelings. I enjoy sharing this peace, joy, hope and gratitude with others.

Make a Wish 5x7 Multimedia $100

Breathe Freedom 5x7 Multimedia $100

SHERRI JACOBS heartlandarttherapy.com

Would you join me for tea? I am asking because, like you, I am quite miserable in our twenty first century conundrum of isolation and being alone. I fondly remember when I could unfurl as my authentic self into the present. Perhaps our conversation might begin with you telling me a story and then with me telling you a story. We could listen to each other fiercely and not look at our phones. If I could step into this place with you and you could step into this place with me, we could find our way back to what matters.

The Social Prescription 16x30 Acrylic on canvas $400.00

SHERRY WHETSTONE "A Sister's Love" is a visual explanation of how much Patty loved Sherry. I wanted to honor my older sister by creating a visual display of everything she loved. She loved lots of bling, denim, her dog, hearts, high heels, music, the color red and ME. Patty is always with me. This is for you sis. With love, Sherry

A Sister's Love 8" x 18" Textiles, beads, jewelry pieces,buttons NFS

TANIS MEYERS @tanismeyersart Wall hanging that includes 250+ hours of coiling, crocheting, and hand sewing. In addition, 17 hours of cutting and attachment of the fringe. Took a break from creating for a couple years and this is my first completed work since the break. Getting back to feeling more like myself with each hour of the process. Thanks to my husband, family, friends, Fibers Group, and art network that continued to inspire and encourage me to get going again on ART! It energizes and gives me peace at the same time. BACK ON THE FRINGE

Back On The Fringe 7' x 4' x3" Fiber $1200

VERONICA SUBLETT

"Gossip" 16 x 20 Mixed media collage on canvas $600

"The Beginning" Mixed media collage on canvas 16 X20 $600

My work is a collection of deep African and Caribbean experiences that have been born in my soul by ancestors who have come together to make me who I am. The vivid colors used to dance together keep time on drums that you can hear in the background as you encounter a piece of art. The colors are designed to stir an unexplainable disturbance that is overwhelming for the viewer! Whether it’s acrylic paint, mixed media, watercolor or paper collage, it’s the poetic hues that are the central entity allowing me to express to the world what I see and feel! It doesn’t matter what the theme or subject of the artwork is, my intention is that the viewer feels the way they would when they walk into a candy store or a kitchen where cookies are slowly baking in the oven.

For a moment you’re transported to a happy place full of hope, joy and peace where you can only anticipate the next exciting moments. I want you become so entangled with the art that you can’t stop thinking or talking about it. It needs to affect your life in such a way that you can’t move on without it. That it heals whatever is broken in you. That’s what art is supposed to do! Make your heart want to go on beating like the drum but now with wonder, questions, purpose and joy!

YVETTE WILKINS yvettte50.yw Art is the language in which I express my innermost thoughts and emotions.

As an artist, I strive creating illustrations that resonates with the viewer. My work draws upon my love for realism and my foundation of creating graphite drawings.

My work utilizes surrealism and illustration to tell the story of my journey and growth. It invites viewers to engage in a dialogue, encouraging them to uncover their own meanings and interpretations.

Through my pieces, I seek to evoke emotions, spark curiosity, and inspire deeper connections. Art holds the power to challenge perceptions and foster understanding, and I am committed to utilizing this medium to explore themes of identity, resilience, and self-reflection.

Peacefully at Peace | 24x36 | Acrylic | $950

INTERURBAN ARTHOUSE 8001 NEWTON ST 66204 WWW.INTERURBANARTHOUSE.ORG