100 Faces: First Exhibition of Eight at the Studio at Living Opportunities—A Personal Account

100 Faces: "in light of our vision…" Exhibition to benefit the Studio at Living Opportunities:

Maybe you have wondered where I have been lately—online—not physically? Maybe you didn't notice my "100 Faces" blog has not been active lately. Maybe you don't care…I'll tell you anyway.I have been very busy at my day job at the Studio at Living Opportunities. Our recent show "in light of our vision…" was a great success. Read about "My day Job" if you want more info.Organizing this show was so much fun and it connected me with local artist in our community—just like I had hoped for this year. The interest in this show was so great that we had to turn artists away—more than anyone could have hoped for in a small studio to benefit people with disabilities in small town Oregon, USA. This event, for me personally, was a big deal. You see, I have been primarily a graphic designer until recent years. Don't get me wrong. I studied Studio Art with emphasis in Graphic Design at the University of Arizona. After graduating I sought employment in the more commercial art field, and I was very successful, but money is not everything. If you are reading my blog right now I am guessing  you may have already discovered this fact.After many successful years in the commercial art field I decide to become self-employed. Many good years followed. Difficult pregnancies and time to raise my children changed my focus—until now. As my three kids gain independence and maturity, I find I have more time to be creative. This is a fun time in life—getting back to my creative roots.

A close-up of Faces 1-4

Check out the amazing sculpture to the right of the photo by one of our local Rogue Valley artist.

Back to the Studio at Living Opportunities: where I help artists with disabilities create art. Yes, I get to do this 20 hours a week. During our last exhibition "in light of our vision…" I spent a forty hour work-week preparing for the exhibition. This time it was different though. For the first time in many years, I was preparing to show eight pieces of my own work. The first eight of my "100 Faces" would be open to the public and open to criticism  Was I ready for this? Yes, I was. My art is not dependent on other people's opinions. If I only created art for other's likes and affirmations, where would I be? Where would the artist's of the Studio be? The Studio artists are so free and do not care about opinion. Disabilities are in my mind are freedom; freedom to express oneself, and freedom from opinions. True freedom—the Studio artists create for pure joy's sake. So how can I fear? What is there to fear when I get to mentor artists like these?

I Am Blessed.