The Art of Recovery

Opening Reception: Friday, May 5 from 5-9pm
Exhibition Dates: May 5-29, 2017

 Fredericksburg, Virginia –A flower reaching for the sun, a bucolic landscape, a colorful tapestry. For people with mental illness, recovery is a very personal experience. Art allows individuals to create a path to recovery and capture what recovery means to them, and each year the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board showcases these visions of healing during its Art of Recovery exhibit.

This year, RACSB will hold the 13th annual Art of Recovery exhibit May 5 through May 29 at PONSHOP Studio and Gallery in Fredericksburg and will coincide with National Mental Health Month. The opening reception for the exhibit will be held Friday, May 5, from 5-9 p.m., featuring live music, poetry readings, and performance art in the gallery’s courtyard. The “Art, Expression, Light” portion of the exhibit will take place at 7:30pm during the First Friday reception.

The Art of Recovery exhibit is organized by members of the Kenmore Club, a psychosocial rehabilitation program operated by the RACSB. The exhibit will feature over 30 pieces from artists working in a variety of art mediums. Artwork includes original drawings on paper, acrylic and oil paintings on canvas, as well as mixed media and video.  All of the pieces will be available for purchase.

The Art of Recovery provides a forum for artists living with mental illness to gain confidence in their abilities, address misconceptions surrounding mental illness, and experience community support.

“One gentleman told me that he had gotten out of the hospital a few weeks ago and was contemplating taking his own life,” said Amy Jindra, program manager of Kenmore Club.  “But then he saw the paperwork for the Art of Recovery and decided it was a new opportunity.” 

PONSHOP Studio and Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

For details, contact Helen Conley at 540/373-7737 or artofrecovery@rappahannockareacsb.org.  Or learn more online at www.rappahannockareacsb.org.

Founded in 1970, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board provides public mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse and prevention/early intervention services to the residents of the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford. RACSB provides  individual, group and family therapy; specialized counseling and case management services; psychological assessment; 24-hour crisis intervention; medication management services; residential services; crisis stabilization respite care; day support for adults with developmental disabilities; and medication-assisted treatment for opioid addictions. .Programs of RACSB include Kenmore Club, Rappahannock Adult Activities, Inc., Project LINK, Program for Teen Parents, Rappahannock Area Kids on the Block, DARE To Be You – Rappahannock Area, Second Step, Too Good for Drugs, Healthy Families – Rappahannock Area, and Mental Health First Aid. To learn more, visit www.rappahannockareacsb.org.

James Walker: "Points of Reference" Exhibit

Exhibition Dates: September 2 – October 30, 2016

Opening Reception: Friday, September 2 (6-10pm)

For the months of September and October 2016, PONSHOP Studio and Gallery will be hosting “Points of Reference,” an exhibition featuring Leesburg artist James Walker. “Points of Reference” will showcase James Walker’s latest artwork series and will open with an artist’s reception on Friday, September 2 from 6-10pm.

“Points of Reference” explores the subject matter that inspires the artist and contains recurring themes that speak to the core of why the symbiotic relationship of art and life are vital to our being. James Walker explores a variety of artistic mediums, from photography and drawing, to painting and mixed media, as well as found object assemblage.

With a background in photojournalism, Walker takes a documentary approach to almost everything he creates, allowing his pieces to develop as a natural extension of existence. His work comes from a need to dissect the simulacra of the present moment and to be enveloped completely in every second of every day.  Join us for the opening reception of this exciting exhibition.

2014 Art Of Recovery Opening Reception

The opening reception for The Art of Recovery exhibit was on Friday May 2, 2014.  This was a very special event since it also marked the ten year anniversary for this annual exhibit in Fredericksburg.  The month-long exhibition showcased thirty artists and over sixty pieces of artwork.  The opening reception also included musical and spoken word performances.  Below are some snapshots from the evening.  PONSHOP would like to congratulate all participating artists and performers for their contributions in making the 2014 Art of Recovery show a success.

The Art of Recovery provides a forum for artists living with mental illness to gain confidence in their abilities, address misconceptions surrounding mental illness, and experience community support. To learn more, visit www.racsb.state.va.us.

Call for Artists: "Remixed 2" Vinyl Album Art Show

PONSHOP Studio and Gallery will be hosting its fifth community art exhibition in August of 2014. We’ve rescued stacks of old Christmas records, wiped the dust off and, with your help, will turn them into something that people actually enjoy– a fun work of art.  "Remixed 2" is a follow up to our "Remixed" Vinyl Album Art Show in June of 2013 which included over sixty vinyl albums from over 25 participating artists. Click Here for the Complete Prospectus and Entry Form.

Spinning at 33 1/3 rpm

Here’s how the show works: once you pay the entry fee, we provide you with up to three ready-to-hang vinyl albums (the fee is $12 per record, or $30 for three). You have until July 27 to turn your Jane Fonda Workout album into a work of art, which will be exhibited throughout the month of August. The theme and medium are up to you, but there is one rule: each record is mounted on wood block with hanging wire and must stay mounted in order to be suitable for display on our gallery walls.

Eligibility

This exhibit is open to all artists (professional and emerging) in the Virginia/DC/Maryland Region.

Submission Requirements

All artists must use the pre-mounted vinyl albums (provided when you pay the entry fee) and all work must be for sale. Submit your best work!  The gallery reserves the right to reject submissions based on quality: uniqueness and creativity, craftsmanship and execution.  Entries must be original creations of the artist – no reproductions of others artwork.  See examples of the pre-mounted albums below:

Entry Specifications

PONSHOP retains 40% of all sales on works exhibited throughout the duration of the exhibit.  Artists will be reimbursed within 30 days of the exhibition closing.  Artists are responsible for acquiring insurance on their own artwork.  Although PONSHOP will take great care in the hanging and display of artwork, the gallery will not be held responsible for items on exhibit.

Entry Procedure

Entry fee: $12 per vinyl album, or $30 for three (up to three submissions).  Artists pay fee and retrieve ready-to-hang vinyl albums from PONSHOP.  Please complete entry form when returning the work.

Delivery: Artists are responsible for transporting their work to and from the gallery. Please keep in mind that during the summer months, vinyl records will warp if stored in a parked automobile! Artwork not retrieved after show closing will incur a storage fee of $10 per day

Calendar

Deadline for Submissions: Saturday, July 26 (10-6pm) Sunday, July 27 (noon-5pm).  *Please Deliver ONLY  between Friday July 25 and Sunday the 27th.

Pick Up of Unaccepted Work: Tuesday, July 29 (10-6pm)

Opening Reception: Friday, August 1 (6-10pm)

Exhibition Dates: August 1-30, 2014

Pick up of Work: Sunday, August 31 (noon-5pm)

If you have any questions regarding this show or would like to be included on the mailing list for notice of future exhibition opportunities, please contact us at event[at]ponshopstudio.com

"Unconditional" Art Show at Foundation Gallery

Friday, September 20 ,2013 was the opening reception for "Unconditional" at Foundation Gallery and Liveroom.  Curated by James Walker, "Unconditional" explores the intimate relationship we have with our companion animals.  A portion of the proceeds from the show go to the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation, a non-profit animal rescue organization that saves the lives of thousands of homeless and abandoned pets each year.  Gabriel Pons contributed a mixed media piece (above) in this exclusive group show.

Contributing Artists include:  Sylvia Ortiz, Jonathan Ashe, Keyhan Lee, HKS181, Drew Graham, Jeremy Gann, Malia Rae, Matt Corrado, and James Walker.