We experience grief after all forms of loss, that of a loved one, a home or a job.
For local artist Maggie Shirley all three occurred within a very short time. She then faced the task of sorting and shredding personal documents belonging to both herself and her mother.
As a practicing artist she saw potential in the bags of paper accumulated as a result of this process.
The strips of paper were fashioned into disks and cones of varying sizes and as the pieces began to take shape Maggie found that words and phrases would randomly appear that resonated with her situation and helped her deal with her grief.
What began as an art installation became a personal journey of healing and a source of resolution.
The resulting exhibition, Peacing: Sacred Circle of Life, also encourages the viewer to participate by writing a word or phrase on a strip of paper leaving a meaningful message throughout the Gallery for others to read.
The public is invited to the opening reception for this powerful exhibition on Friday, August 7 at 7 p.m. at the Kootenay Gallery of Art.
The artist will be in attendance and will speak about her personal story and how the process of creating art proved to be a transformative experience.
The Kootenay Gallery is located across from the Castlegar Regional airport adjacent to the Doukhobor Discovery Centre on Heritage Way. The gift shop and exhibition galleries are Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and fully air conditioned. For more information visit www.kootenaygallery.com.