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Spirit in the Arts - VignettesA Day in the Studio See the work of these featured artists here. Whiteshoes sits on a bar stool in front of the window where the light illumines the easel. He draws with absorption, focused on the shapes that flow from the pencils and pens that are his media of choice. He tells me Satan was after him this morning as he tried to get to the Center. Roused by police in the middle of the night, he’d been bumped from his sleeping spot on the heater grate in the downtown mall. Trying to make his disabled legs move without much sleep was hard, especially when harassed by some local youth. Drugs and alcohol are easily available and constantly offered, but something else draws him: “God told me to get here where it was safe and I could draw what God told me to draw.” He smiles, not a tooth in his mouth as he adds, “I made it. God always helps me. I am so glad to be here.”
In front of the next window sits Sam (not his real name). Sam is the assistant manager for the alcohol and drug recovery home where he got clean and sober more than seven months ago. Because he lives in close quarters with many others he is thrilled to have a place where he can safely use his computer and do his art. Sam is just now getting back to his art after years away. Addictions had seized his spirit and his first priority was concentrating on his spiritual recovery through the 12 steps. “Now I am ready to continue creating my watercolors and enhancing them with computer technology. It really is part of my spiritual program; it does something to my insides.”
Across the table from Sam is where Mary and her guide dog April sit. Mary is working on a mosaic that was commissioned at the Spirit in the Arts Center Open House. Mary is going blind and deaf and had a brain tumor removed several years back. A former journalist, legislative aid, water consultant and attorney, her health issues have led her to open her heart, mind and soul as other parts of her body shut down. She recently chose to move her mosaic work to the Center while her husband remodels a recently purchased house into their dream home. Mary recently wrote: “Moving my studio over to Spirit in the Arts was the best thing I ever did. As my vision, hearing and balance issues grow ever more challenging, I literally have a hard time getting out of bed. Having my studio here where I have access to the sighted, hearing and able-bodied help I need to function has been a wondrous joy. I've never been busier, more productive, or happier with my art work."
On the other side of Mary is a small table where Max is working on a mosaic. Max is an African American man who came to Spirit in the Arts as a volunteer about a year ago in a time of life transition. Initially present to help out, he began to talk with Mary and became interested in mosaic work. After creating a sculpture of a man’s head out of newspaper, wire and paper maché, he decided to mosaic it with iridescent glass. Mary warned Max that it could be disappointing to begin with such a difficult project. Now she tells people what an incredible talent he has. Max used to be here 5 days a week but is now back in school studying for a new career as a healthcare professional where art will be incorporated in whatever he does.
Also working at the middle table is Jane (not her real name). Jane is in her seventies chronologically but is probably much younger than that emotionally and intellectually. She suffers from poor mental health, and she loves art. She is an amazing pianist and vocalist who occasionally wanders to the performing arts room to play the piano or keyboard there. Most often she draws pictures with markers, colored pencils, or crayons which she then decorates with glitter, feathers, beads and sometimes even with poetry. Next to Jane is usually her husband Joe. He simply sits and watches. Joe might respond if you talk to him, but sometimes just seems lost inside. Jane and Joe live in an apartment in a group home.
Finally today we are blessed with Pam (not her real name). Pam comes from a large old Sacramento family. She doesn’t get to SAC much because she often takes care of her grandchildren for her working daughter. Pam does incredible oil paintings and hopes to set up some studio space for herself here. She wants us to extend hours to weekends and evenings so she can be here more. Pam lives on the river in Carmichael.
All of these people come to the Center because it is a safe and welcoming place to create. They stay because they find community. Connections are forged to deeper places in their own hearts and souls, to the Spirit and to each other. Side by side they create and find their lives being created in new ways through the sharing of resources, support, encouragement and love. They arrive from different socio-economic, geographic, ethnic and life circumstances and yet here they find common ground… a common ground that grows in depth and appreciation as they create together and develop the community that is the essence of the Spirit in the Arts Center. Jean Holsten, Director
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