Resilience: Dark & Light

The darkness has its own light. ~ Theodore Roethke

As we move toward winter, we take time to celebrate the light that is known in the dark and the resiliency that comes from within. We are excited to welcome Charlie Brouwer to this Springhouse event where, inspired by Charlie’s work and a film made about him, we will explore as a community what it means to be resilient.  We will share a meal together, experience Charlie’s work (some created with Springhouse students), and learn more about Charlie’s journey through the film “Somewhere Out There” directed by Julian Aceituno and Barkin Özturk from Florida State University. We will also have time at this event for questions and discussion about Charlie’s work and the film.

More about Charlie:

I am an artist in search of beauty, truth, and goodness. Because I lack a preconceived idea of where I am going or how I will get there, or even what it will look like if and when I arrive, my work has been all over the place. I began trying out some drawing, painting, printmaking, and jewelry in the 1970s. In the 80s I added sculpture and installations.  My search includes philosophy, theology, the earth and the whole human condition, so my practice involves a dialogue with materials and the history of humanity and art.  My audience has been my real world neighbors, community, and Facebook/Instagram followers as well as the art world of galleries and museums. My work with outdoor sculptures and public art began in the 90s and evolved to include social practice and community engagement after 2000. After suddenly becoming legally blind in 2022, I thought my work as an artist had ended. But, soon trees along the road began to speak to me as my wife drove me here and there and I embarked on months of drawing trees with charcoal on paper and then on 6’x4’ canvases. Now, I’m finding new ways to continue all of the above – my work is still all over the place and my current exhibition is taking place all over the New River Valley region where I live.

Please register below.