Paintings by YWCA women in transition going on display
When Cornelia Peckart started teaching art to women in the YWCA’s transitional living program, she didn’t know it would become a form of therapy for them. Nor did she know how successful it would become.
Now, their work will be displayed at Art Forms at this month’s art crawl.
The exhibition is one night only — after Friday, the art will go back to its original home: the walls of common areas in the newly-renovated transitional living facility.
Under Peckart’s leadership, women in the program joined an eight-week art club in order to do something productive while their rooms were out of commission during the renovations.
The club, like the renovation, was sponsored by Branthaven Homes.
The transitional living program offers a place for women to stay while they look for more permanent housing. Often, they are fleeing forms of violence, living in poverty or at risk of being criminalized.
Peckart says the art club has become therapeutic for the women, who are often in emotional distress when they come to the YWCA. She says one told her it was a way for her to turn off all of her worries.
But unlike other forms of art therapy, the club was less structured. Women were able to create what they wanted, analysis-free.
Peckart says they used symbolism from aboriginal culture in the art.
“A fish symbolizes food and water — so in a way, survival. A turtle is longevity,” she says.
She says the women have continued to make art on their own time, which some will sell at Friday’s exhibition.
Peckart is looking for funding to continue the program.