Unheard Voices/Unseen Lives: A Path to Empowerment is a premiere showing of the works of these young artists. Ranging in age from 17 to 22, these youth have faced, and continue to face, unimaginable challenges including homelessness, drug addiction and abuse. As a result of circumstances in their lives, these youth essentially remain invisible members of society. All of them are determined survivors and brilliant artists. They have never before had an opportunity to have their work shown in a public exhibition. Their dedication to complete the work for this exhibition was a challenge in and of itself. In spite of all the obstacles they face on a daily basis, their strength, courage and resilience shines through in these works of art.
Youth arts mentor Karen Olch creates possibilities for homeless youth to find empowerment that is inherent in the art making process. Says Olch, “I am so incredibly proud of these young people. It has been, and continues to be, an honor and a privilege to know them, work with them, and be a witness to the bright, shining gems that they are.”
This project is made possible by a grant from the Lane Arts Council.
The Lobby Art Gallery is open for viewing during office hours, noon to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. The WOW Hall is located at the corner of 8th and Lincoln in Eugene. For more information please call 687-2746.
In the Gallery
For the month of May, the Community Center for the Performing Arts will proudly display the Works of Finley in the Lobby Art Gallery of the WOW Hall.
Finley is a local artist and contributor to the art movement, here and internationally, buy way of using his talents of networking and artist’s eye to get a lot of recognition to the right place. Having done the various small cafe shows and working with the new flow of mediums, he reached out and began a new series of artwork dealing a lot with found object collage, and mounting his ever more tempting watercolors onto metal works. Grinding new ideas, quiet literally, into the realm of dis-assemblage and reinvention with various objects, kind to the eye, he started with watercolors and worked into wood work and stamping, pottery and new types of medium, yet to be unveiled. Now, working in the field of using recycled and found objects, and re-assemblage, and "mashing", as he terms it, he says, "The payoff, spiritually, is an incredible feeling."
As well as being involved with H.O.S.E.A (Homeless Youth Out Reach), a board member at the Downtown Initiative for Visual Arts, Media Arts Committee, and volunteering at some other local non-profits, he is a very pleasant person and a tad bit shy. He says he uses his artwork to work through emotional baggage, left over from a lot of loss, and the inability to grieve for lost friends and loved ones.
"Learning is part of this life thing,” he says. "I feel that I am finding out what it is like to pick up pieces of a broken life, then use them to create a lasting impression. Some of my work is what my memory and emotions are finding a release of energy from a place of regret and shame. Also I am finding some of my work is coming through me from a place of discovery too, finding life is continual and we are here to enjoy, excel and learn. A lot of the time I am finding out how to just be in the moment and find enjoyment in that as well. I use the heat of the moment to destroy so I to can create.”
There will be on Opening Reception on First Friday, May 2, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The Lobby Art Gallery is open for viewing during office hours, noon to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday. The WOW Hall is located at the corner of 8th and LIncoln in Eugene. For more information please call 687-2746.
Call
for Artists The Community Center for the Performing
Arts is looking for artists who would like to display their
work in the Lobby Art Gallery of the WOW Hall.
Thousand
of people pass through the WOW Hall's Lobby Art Gallery
every month, so this is an excellent opportunity to show
your work to the community. Art is displayed for one calendar
month and the artist may host a reception on the first Friday.
Proceeds from any sales go completely to the artist.
Gallery
shows are scheduled several months in advance by the CCPA's
Art Gallery Director. If you are interested in displaying
your work, please leave a message at the WOW Hall office,
687-2746.
Show
Photos
Here are a few pics of some of our great perfomances.
Check back from time to time to see what's next!
The
full live gallery page is located here.
