Today, Path with Art, an organization that creates space for individual and community healing and growing through art, opens an exhibit called “Winter Visions” at the Level 8 gallery at The Seattle Public Library’s Central Library (1000 Fourth Avenue).

“Winter Visions” features works in a variety of media by Path with Art participants and teaching artists that explore art's ability to offer healing, whether to the creator or appreciator, and center the life stories of the artists. The exhibit will open with a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, and will be on view until Sunday, March 17. Like all Library events, “Winter Visions” is free and open to the public.              

Through self-expression and creative choices, artists featured in the “Winter Visions” exhibit present a kaleidoscope of winter visions, where art becomes a mirror reflecting their personal truth and resilience. Through their art, “Winter Visions” artists seek to foster connection, empathy and understanding, the core qualities of healthy communities. 

The artworks are grouped by the Path With Art program in which they were created, including abstract drawing and painting, hand-building ceramics, documentary mobile photography, costume creation, acrylic painting and “Poems by the Book,” which drew inspiration from spines of volumes in the Central Library’s collection.

You’ll find pieces ranging from Diana Balgaard’s bright red and blue acrylic and mixed media work “Scrap Memories” to Roland Paklo Nevarez’s glittery “Spaceman Galore” costume to Roux Noel Conant’s evocative digital photograph of a dahlia against a dark background, made using a scanner bed. The photo above depicts Bethann Shannon’s “Exhale,” created with posca paint pens on canvas.

Each artwork’s title card is accompanied by a comment from the artist, which often shares a glimpse of the role that art, and Path With Art, has played in their life. A sample of the artists’ own words:

  • “This is a Christmas present I made for the staff at Path With Art. I put a lot of time and creativity into it because they deserve a beautiful gift.”
  • “Ceramics are very therapeutic for my disabilities. I want it to help everyone else, too.”
  • “Art is my ‘go to place.’ Art is my therapy! Art saves me daily!”

ABOUT PATH WITH ART

Path with Art is a Seattle-based arts nonprofit that fosters the restoration of individuals, groups, and society from the effects of trauma through arts engagement and community building. Since 2008, we have been offering free year-round arts programming, materials, access, and exhibitions to low- to no-income individuals recovering from traumas such as PTSD, mental and physical health challenges, homelessness, domestic violence, and substance use disorder, among others. We help participants deepen their artistic skills while growing in self-confidence and self-expression, serving over 1,500 individuals in 2023. Participants become more resilient through engagement in our programming and connect with a supportive artistic community. Learn more at pathwithart.org.

ABOUT THE SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY 

The Library brings people, information and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. We support universal access to information and ideas, and form strong partnerships with local organizations to offer services that are accessible to all.

Contact the Library’s Ask Us service by phone at 206-386-4636 or by email or chat at spl.org/Ask. Staff are ready to answer questions and direct you to helpful resources and information.