WILLITS, CA., 8/2/24 — Art is known for being a tool for escapism, with visual art being no exception. One can immerse oneself in a painting, sculpture or drawing – either as a creator or a viewer – and discover meaning, memories and emotions. For the August exhibition at the Willits Center for the Arts (WCA), which opens Saturday, it’s about the healing power of art.
The exhibition, titled SAFE-SCAPES, showcases the works of painters Don Ponte and Jody Johnston. The center describes the show as “a testament to the healing power of art, showcasing paintings that serve as sanctuaries of peace and reflection for both the artists and the viewers.”
Johnston discovered her love for a painting after a self-described “life-altering” car accident that left her severely injured. She used painting as a healing tool, creating dramatic abstracts that she calls therapeutic landscapes. “My paintings are ‘places’ I go to for refuge and healing,” she shared in a statement. Her works emote myriad feelings, using color and dancing gestures of her paintbrush to allow the viewer to feel one with the work and their own feelings, even in a crowded gallery.
Don Ponte was born in San Francisco and started drawing a child. He would become a cartoonist for the Menlo Park Recorder and he eventually graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute. When he’s not working as an illustrator for advertising companies, he creates vivid oil paintings centered on storytelling. His paintings contrast with Johnston’s abstracts, offering notes of Thomas Hart Benton and Alexander Hogue without the Dust Bowl sadness. His works include charming portraits of people and animals, and scenic landscapes and structures that allow one to escape the gallery and into their imagination.
SAFE-SCAPES runs August 3-25 with an opening reception on August 3 from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free. Willits Center for the Arts, 71 E. Commercial St., Willits, (707) 972-3326, willitscenterforthearts.org.