Art can serve as both creative expression and self-reflection. The exhibition "Kitiera Alley: The Colorful Garden, The healing power of art inspired by nature" at the Fresh A.I.R. Gallery invites both the artist and viewer to look deeper into nature out-of-doors and within. The works are on display now through Sept. 25.
Alley’s paintings are captivating because they bring humans into the world of flora and fauna, either by depicting people interacting with nature or by choosing an owl or a fox as the subject of a portrait. Flowers overtake the person gazing at them. Often, humans are turned away from us, focusing attention on enormous sunflowers and foxgloves.
Other paintings show a lone figure gazing into a window. Are they looking inside or
contemplating their image? Even the owl admires its reflection in a pool of water and looks longingly into a window, where a bright light within provides evidence of life inside the structure.
Alley is a self-taught Columbus-based artist. Her vibrancy of color brings energy to the canvas. In another painting, a woman communes with the owl. The humans are literally lone figures outside of humanity looking into rooms where other people have gathered. The longing is palpable. Creating art may be a way inside the room and our psyche.
Art is a way to help
Project director Sandy Stephenson welcomed me into the Fresh A.I.R. (Artists in Recovery) Gallery, which provides space for artists affected by mental illness and those in recovery from “substance use disorders” to publicly display their artwork and offer works for sale.
Artists have long been associated with creating work while struggling with their demons. (Think of Vincent van Gogh.) The works in this gallery demonstrate that great art can emerge from sobriety and clarity, serving both the artist and art patrons.
Fresh A.I.R. began its mission in 2004 and assists the artists “through every step of the exhibition process.” The art gallery is a project of Southeast Healthcare. Project support is provided by the City of Columbus; The Columbus Foundation; Franklin County, Ohio; the Greater Columbus Arts Council; and the Ohio Arts Council. Interested artists in recovery may submit work samples to southeasthc.org/services/freshairgallery/submit-artwork for exhibition consideration.
According to Ohio Recovery Centers data, substance use disorders in Columbus are slightly above the national average. Art therapy is gaining ground as a means to alleviate stress, provide emotional expression, encourage self-awareness, improve mental health and enhance communication. Programs like these benefit the Columbus community by providing support for artists seeking recovery and mental health support.
The benefit to the viewer is appreciating nature through art, which may be the most accessible way to connect with the nature world when we have limited time and resources for travel. In Alley’s paintings, the natural world is looking back at us. Not as judgment, but in a way that suggests curiosity. Museums and art galleries can feel like peaceful spaces in a chaotic world.
In Alley’s artist’s statement, she “invite[s] viewers to experience [her] work the way healing often happens: slowly, intuitively, without pressure to resolve or transform. These pieces are not meant to diagnose or instruct… This exhibition is not about arrival or completion. It honors healing as cyclical, layered, and alive”
Although art therapy can be used in conjunction with talk therapy, creating art provides a means of connecting with others when words are difficult. Painting becomes a safe way of expressing strong emotion.
Scholistico.com outlines specific benefits for various artistic modalities. These techniques include “mandala drawing for stress relief, expressive painting for emotional release, and gratitude art journaling for positive thinking,” among others. Similarly, Scholistico provides information on art therapy for veterans, those diagnosed with autism, those in grief recovery, teenagers, seniors and adults. Find out more at scholistico.com/art-therapy-for-addiction-recovery.
The American Art Therapy Association stresses that art therapists are mental health professionals who train in both art and psychology. The organization states that, “art therapy is particularly effective during times of crisis, changes in circumstances, trauma, and grief.”
The reasons for this are that “art therapy helps people feel more in control of their own lives, helps relieve anxiety and depression, and assists in managing pain by moving attention” away from the source.
There are many reasons to make art, from recreational to professional. Sometimes, the act of creation can have greater benefits than providing satisfaction of accomplishment and decorating our walls. It can brighten our lives. It can send us on a new path. Even save our lives.
Amy Drake, M.A., M.S. MCM, is a Telly Award-winning filmmaker, playwright and actor. She can be reached at draketheatrical@gmail.com.
Know if you go
The Fresh A.I.R. Gallery is located at 131 N. High St., in downtown Columbus. The gallery is free to explore Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are nearby parking lots and on-street parking available. The Fresh A.I.R. Gallery can be reached at freshairgallery@gmail.com. Follow its Facebook and Instagram pages and learn more at southeasthc.org/services/freshairgallery.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Fresh A.I.R. Gallery exhibit explores healing power of art and nature
