MARCH 12–APRIL 16, 2026

“We are a group of five professional art therapists who are also artists. Making meaning and finding value in the human experience is inherent in our work and livelihoods. This collection of pieces began post-pandemic. It is said that meaning often develops from great hardship. Although the pandemic was a time of sudden, sometimes jarring social-distancing and tremendous loss, it also gave pause, a pause that helped many of us rethink certain conventions and ways of being. As art therapists who continually aid clients in making meaning, we believe in the human spirit and in its resilience. During these times of continued political and environmental turmoil, pressing on to find meaning and overcoming challenge is as important as ever. We are interested in connecting to the communities around us to encourage resilience. We hope our work brings together the community to dialogue around such important issues. We propose that artmaking can be a pathway in finding personal and collective strength, endurance and overcoming challenges.

We recognize as art therapists that all of us can benefit from a pause and rest, a chance to learn new skills after the global uncertainties of the last several years. We have experience seeing art accomplish just that: create opportunities for growth and change even in uncertain times. Some of us have used art for comfort or to find coping and resilience in hard times. For some, the art aided in making meaning during uncertain periods. And for others, the art speaks to the aspects of living through the last several years of uncertainty and discovering inner resources to get through it.

Our group has united before, exhibiting work on themes of alchemy, transitions, and change. Resilience is the natural evolution from these themes, and a response to current times. Not so different than beginning a therapeutic encounter with an art prompt, we initiated this group work around a common object. Each group member took this prompt to develop a unique and personal response. In this case the catalyst was a repurposed book, a common art therapy tool to aid expression. We later used a second prompt of an “award” that is meant to recognize the efforts and strivings that are not overtly or formally acknowledged: a personal or collective achievement.  

California passed a senate resolution early on as we developed this work. This resolution recognized the positive impact of art therapy in our state. Exhibiting work at an institution of higher learning we hope to celebrate this news and inspire future practitioners in the field and others to engage and participate in art therapy.”