ART HEALS Part 2 - Art AS GOOD HABIT

The Secret Garden

JOHN WILLIAMS

Collage

14x11

PRINT: $80 unframed/$150 framed

John calls his collages "a safe and intimate hideaway for the viewer and for me."

I am an artist dealing with autism. Living with this challenge is a daily struggle with overwhelming anxiety and the discomfort of never fitting in socially. These feelings never leave me. The world is a chaotic place for me, and thoughts swirl around endlessly in my head, making it hard to stay calm and focused.

When I was a small child, I found that clay modeling gave me an escape from these pressures. I was able to channel my fears into the fanciful dragons and dinosaurs I made which were so lifelike that they drew everyone’s admiration.  I went on to study sculpture in college, but the anxiety about how I could pursue this field after school caused me to look at other options – leading eventually to my current medium of cut paper collage. Even though I work with small pieces of flat paper, I am able to imbue my pieces with a sculptural quality.

Creating collages is a metaphor for my daily life. I make order out of chaos by organizing tiny pieces of cut paper into totally new and coherent visions. Once I draw out the design and choose the paper colors and textures, the process takes on a life of its own and the end result is often different and more intriguing than the original concept. My portraits and landscapes offer completely new perspectives on the world. While the portraits are usually historical in nature, my landscapes are restful and calming, often featuring water elements like streams or the sea. They provide a safe and intimate hideaway for the viewer and for me. 

Cascades

JOHN WILLIAMS

Collage

14x11

John calls his collages "a safe and intimate hideaway for the viewer and for me." 

I am an artist dealing with autism. Living with this challenge is a daily struggle with overwhelming anxiety and the discomfort of never fitting in socially. These feelings never leave me. The world is a chaotic place for me, and thoughts swirl around endlessly in my head, making it hard to stay calm and focused.When I was a small child, I found that clay modeling gave me an escape from these pressures. I was able to channel my fears into the fanciful dragons and dinosaurs I made which were so lifelike that they drew everyone’s admiration.  I went on to study sculpture in college, but the anxiety about how I could pursue this field after school caused me to look at other options – leading eventually to my current medium of cut paper collage. Even though I work with small pieces of flat paper, I am able to imbue my pieces with a sculptural quality.Creating collages is a metaphor for my daily life. I make order out of chaos by organizing tiny pieces of cut paper into totally new and coherent visions. Once I draw out the design and choose the paper colors and textures, the process takes on a life of its own and the end result is often different and more intriguing than the original concept. My portraits and landscapes offer completely new perspectives on the world. While the portraits are usually historical in nature, my landscapes are restful and calming, often featuring water elements like streams or the sea. They provide a safe and intimate hideaway for the viewer and for me.  

Woodland Garden

JOHN WILLIAMS

Collage 

14x11

John calls his collages "a safe and intimate hideaway for the viewer and for me." 

I am an artist dealing with autism. Living with this challenge is a daily struggle with overwhelming anxiety and the discomfort of never fitting in socially. These feelings never leave me. The world is a chaotic place for me, and thoughts swirl around endlessly in my head, making it hard to stay calm and focused.When I was a small child, I found that clay modeling gave me an escape from these pressures. I was able to channel my fears into the fanciful dragons and dinosaurs I made which were so lifelike that they drew everyone’s admiration.  I went on to study sculpture in college, but the anxiety about how I could pursue this field after school caused me to look at other options – leading eventually to my current medium of cut paper collage. Even though I work with small pieces of flat paper, I am able to imbue my pieces with a sculptural quality.Creating collages is a metaphor for my daily life. I make order out of chaos by organizing tiny pieces of cut paper into totally new and coherent visions. Once I draw out the design and choose the paper colors and textures, the process takes on a life of its own and the end result is often different and more intriguing than the original concept. My portraits and landscapes offer completely new perspectives on the world. While the portraits are usually historical in nature, my landscapes are restful and calming, often featuring water elements like streams or the sea. They provide a safe and intimate hideaway for the viewer and for me.  

Secret Spaces

CAROL WINTLE

Mixed Media

12x16

NFS 

Secret Spaces hangs in my living room. It shows a homemade twig bench in a wooded area, someplace I would love to sit and meditate. Surrounding this space are a pleasing array of subtle colors and textures. It seems to represent mystery. I never get tired of looking at this collage.

Autumn Leaves

JOANNE CHAKRABARTI

Acrylic

9x12

$400

Autumn Leaves falling in our yard inspired me to capture this energy on canvas. The pointed tips of the leaves with varied and vibrant colors make me happy. They are the present, an anchor to time and beauty.

Evening at Asa Gray Garden

JEANNE MOONEY

Photography

11x8.5

Price Upon Request

The simple act of being outside and going for walks is healing. I spend time at many public open spaces and conservation lands throughout the year. I always have a camera with me, often just my cell phone. I enjoy capturing moments to share with friends, family, and followers via social media to provide them with visual joy and beauty during their week. This has been particularly important to me during the pandemic when people have felt isolated and stressed. My goal is to create a shared sense of well-being and connection with nature.
 

Mount Auburn Cemetery is particularly special to me. As an active cemetery and arboretum, it’s an urban oasis for mourning, reflection, healing, and inspiration. I walk at MAC multiple times a week for pleasure and serenity. I also volunteer there as a Citizen Scientist making observations for various studies. I combine my photography with this field time and share these images as a way of encouraging environmental stewardship. Studying climate change and conservation we can heal our relationship with nature and help us to find peace and connection within ourselves.