EVERY PIECE MATTERS
In the summer of 2023, the Creative Connections Program was invited by the OSLP Arts and Culture Center to display stained glass mosaics in a community mosaic art exhibit entitled, “Every Piece Matters.” Individual and collaborative mosaic pieces created in therapeutic art groups were included in this exhibit, pointing to the healing and connection taking place in our community through the arts.
WHAT I BRING
TO THE TABLE
In the spring of 2023, the Creative Connections Program partnered with Hosea Youth Services as well as the City of Eugene Cultural Services in the project, “What I Bring to the Table.” Unhoused youth were invited to create individual stained glass mosaics as well as a collaborative mosaic tabletop to express their strengths, potentials, and inherent value as a part of our community. These pieces were displayed in the “Windowfront Exhibitions” in downtown Eugene.
HOSEA YOUTH SERVICES ART SHOW
In the summer/fall of 2022, the Creative Connections Program partnered with Hosea Youth Services to provide therapeutic art groups to youth experiencing homelessness. The artwork created within these groups were then displayed at an on-site art show where youth artists as well as the community were invited to see their work displayed.
MOSAIC TABLE PROJECT
In December of 2021-June of 2022, the Creative Connections Program partnered with Everyone Village and community partners in the “Mosaic Table Project.” The purpose of this project was to provide residents an opportunity to create, connect, and make purposeful art together.
Upon completion, these tables were placed at Everyone Village with the intention of providing residents a place to gather, share meals, and add beauty to their shared space with one another. In addition, community partners’ participation served to bring awareness to vulnerable and marginalized populations in our community.
BEAUTY FROM ASHES
The glass used in the creation of this Phoenix was gathered from the ashes of the 2020 fire in Blue River. This was originally transparent window glass that changed color due to the intense heat of the fire.
The symbolism of the Phoenix rising from the ashes inspired this piece, as the “Artful Connections for Women” therapeutic art groups incorporated glass that went through the fire, and emerged resilient in the midst of adversity, paralleling the challenges experienced by the many events which occurred in 2020. This piece was displayed at CAFA’s “Night of Light” event in the summer of 2021.
WINDOWFRONT
EXHIBITIONS
In December 2020 - January 2021, large stained glass mandalas created by the “Artful Connections for Women” online therapeutic art groups were featured in the “Windowfront Exhibition” in downtown Eugene. This exhibition “showcases local artists and arts organizations, transforms vacant storefronts into works of art, highlights our downtown businesses and offers color and light to the community.” (Eugene Cultural Services website) We thank Lane Arts Council for the generous community grant to help make our “Mandala Project” possible. We also thank Eugene Cultural Services as well ArtCity for your partnership in displaying this exhibit and promoting meaningful art experiences within the city of Eugene.
BEAM
In October of 2020, small stained glass mandalas created by the “Artful Connections for Women” online therapeutic art groups were displayed at BEAM, “a popup event showcasing works of art created by regional artists. It's an engaging, participatory, and luminous art experience that takes place annually during the fall season in Downtown Eugene.” (ArtCity website). We thank Lane Arts Council for the generous community grant to help make our “Mandala Project” possible. We also thank ArtCity for including this exhibit and promoting meaningful art experiences within the city of Eugene. (Photo of exhibit from ArtCity website.)
REFLECTIONS
SPACE EXHIBIT
In August of 2020, the “Artful Connections for Women” online therapeutic art groups were invited by Eug-Art 404 to be a part of the “Reflections Space” Exhibit, sponsored by the City of Eugene Cultural Services. The women in these groups created teardrop-shaped pieces “to convey themes of disruption, loss, reflection, and hope” as a result of COVID-19 and the events that took place in 2020, including the death of George Floyd. The Artful Connections for Women Groups contributed their petals to this community exhibit with the intention of helping to create a community space for healing.
HEAD START OF LANE COUNTY:
WHITEAKER CLASSROOM’S VIRTUAL ART EXHIBIT
In February of 2020, Whiteaker Head Start of Lane County asked Creative Connections if they would partner with their preschool students in creating mosaic pieces to be displayed in their Spring Art Show. Prior to making their pieces, the students learned about the tool of “STAR” breathing (Smile, Take a deep breath, And Relax), a tool from Conscious Discipline to help students practice emotional regulation when emotions felt “big.” Then the students thoughtfully made their “star” mosaic pieces to help them remember what they learned, selecting tumbled stained glass pieces and “jewels” to complete their creations.
Though the art show had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, we still wanted students to have the opportunity, along with their families, to see their artwork displayed side by side with their fellow classmates. We hope through this virtual exhibit we will be able to celebrate the beauty of their creations while remembering that we are truly all in this together. Well wishes to all of you, and well done, Whiteaker Head Start.
