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OffCenter Arts, in partnership with the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Public Art Program, presents 鈥淣ew Works,鈥� an exhibition by 23 local artists.

鈥淣ew Works鈥� is the culmination of a 12-week professional development program designed for artists who have been experiencing adverse social, economic or cultural barriers to art making or going through difficult life transitions. Twenty-two program participants are exhibiting their work alongside one program volunteer.

鈥淎t OffCenter, as a free community art space, we serve a high proportion of unhoused folks with disabilities, and queer and trans folks,鈥� said Mika Maloney, OffCenter Arts鈥� executive director. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 pretty well reflected in this program. It was an open application, but we prioritized underserved artists. And there鈥檚 a lot of artists that are in some kind of transition, whether that is about housing, or recovering from trauma, or a traumatic brain injury or some other health issue. There鈥檚 a great diversity in the sort of transitions that folks in the program have experienced.鈥�

In some cases, Maloney said, participants had a serious professional art practice in the past but had to suspend it while dealing with issues such as chronic illnesses or caretaking for a family member.

鈥淥ther folks are looking at deepening or expanding their art practice, or they鈥檙e starting to think about it in a more professional way for the first time,鈥� Maloney said.

The 12-week course included educational workshops, group critiques and advice on talking to art dealers, curators and collectors. Free art supplies were provided, as well.

Many of the participating artists, who ranged in age from their 20s through their 70s, felt anxious sharing their work with strangers at the beginning of the program. But their initial discomfort faded as the weeks went on, according to OffCenter鈥檚 gallery coordinator Dahlia Jarjusey, who was also a critique leader.

鈥淎t first, everyone was super nervous and timid about talking about their work,鈥� Jarjusey said. 鈥淏ut by the end, everyone was really open and vulnerable, which I thought was really special.鈥�

Maloney gave credit to the program facilitators. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e so skilled at giving gentle support and creating space for people to recognize their own creative potential,鈥� she said.

As a program sponsor, the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Public Art Program has made a commitment to purchasing some of the pieces in 鈥淣ew Works鈥� for its permanent collection.

鈥淭he opportunity to be part of the public art collection is huge,鈥� Maloney said. 鈥淎t the same time, we鈥檙e trying to give them a lot of professional development skills and resources, so this isn鈥檛 just a one and done, where they sell one thing and are not set up to ever sell anything again.鈥�

Since all of the works in the show are actively being considered by the city, they will not be available for sale to the general public this month. But anyone who attends the June 6 reception is encouraged to talk to their favorite artists about other works, including prints, that may be available for sale.

鈥淲e have a really diverse show, a big variety of mediums,鈥� Maloney said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all 2D, but we鈥檝e got collage paintings, stained glass, mixed-media, oil, acrylic, watercolor 鈥� There鈥檚 a nice mix.鈥�

The exhibition will be on view at Fusion through June 22, with a reception on the evening of Friday, June 6, during ABQ Artwalk.

OffCenter exhibition 'New Works' recognizes creative potential