Interrupt Trauma with Art and Kindness in Iowa

This summer was full of fun and excitement at ArtForce Iowa. We hosted three exhibits featuring three young artists from June to August. Our featured artist in June was a film photographer. In the Spring of 2022, she studied abroad in London. She was able to learn more about the importance of nature and history preservation. Her exhibit "Far From Home" is a collection of film photography prints of her everyday life while living abroad. Our featured artist in July was a multimedia artist. Her "Happy Day" exhibit invites you to take a journey through her past and present artwork. She started creating abstract designs in 2019 because it was something she loved doing. When she first began creating patterns, she did it so it could help her destress. She has to be focused when designing the abstract lines because being precise and not making mistakes is very important, and it has helped her a lot with her healing process. Our featured artist in Aguust was a mixed media artist. She is a visual artist who specializes in mixed media and collage art. Her artwork is mostly influenced by the topic of social issues. Her exhibit "The Unforgettable Memories of Koreans" informs the public of the pain and sorrow that has been forgotten in Korean history during the Japan colonial rule. 

As school started back in late August, we were able to begin in-person art workshops with youth artists in Central Iowa. We also had our first in-person workshop with youth living in Polk County Juvenile Detention Center since 2020. Even though we are still living in a pandemic, we have been able to continue making art and sharing space with youth artists. Your support allows us to continue creating opportunities for youth to transform through art. 

Links:

• Learn more about our artists here!