There is a book’s worth of sayings about overcoming life’s hardships.
Most popular among them — “There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel” — serves as motivation to keep pushing forward.
That concept is the meaning behind the upcoming exhibit, “Windows of Life,” opening at the Artist With a Purpose gallery. An opening night reception is 5 to 6 p.m. Friday at the gallery, 100 S. 4th St., Leesburg.
In partnership with A21’s Walk For Freedom, the exhibit focuses on the issues of human trafficking, mental health and dealing with hard emotions.“What does your window look like in your life? I want people to get a different perspective and question how they can experience emotions, and can get through hard moments,” Semeion Richardson, owner of the gallery, said.
The idea behind the exhibit first came to Richardson a few years ago, after meeting Leesburg resident, Tanya Jackson Thompson, the Lake County host of Walk For Freedom.The two met in 2022, at an awards ceremony hosted by the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce.
“I got a chance to talk to her and I found out what she was doing with A21,” Richardson said. “I wanted to see if I could do some art pieces to connect with what people go through with human sex trafficking.”Richardson felt art was a perfect way to interpret the complex emotions that humans experience after surviving difficult periods.
“Walking is one way to share the message, but actually expressing the emotions in art, that was my initial thing that drew me in,” Richardson said. Art gives a bigger message so people can understand in a deeper way.”
The exhibit will include over 10 mixed-media pieces about human trafficking and parts of Richardson’s life.
“There is a lot of texture, there is a lot of movement and 3D art,” Richardson said. “I want someone to understand pain is disheartening, but purpose still lives on.”
The exhibit falls on the gallery’s third annivesary, and opening night will include an art walk from 5 to 9 p.m., a business mixer from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. and an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. DJ T Samp will provide live music.While Richardson called the event, “not your typical art walk,” she said it’ll be a community celebration of the gallery and art with a message.
For more information about the free exhibition or the gallery, visit artistwap.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
