Hospice of Santa Barbara welcomes local photographer Joyce Wilson, who will display her art in its Leigh Block Gallery.
On Thursday, October 27th from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Hospice of Santa Barbara will host a wine and cheese open house reception for the new exhibit.
Wilson’s photographic exhibit, “en Silence”, was inspired by mythology and ancient cultures. She created the work while traveling with her husband in Ireland as they were coming to terms with his diagnosis of terminal cancer. The art helped celebrate her beloved’s journey home, and helped to set her free on a new path.
Wilson has been fascinated with mythology and ancient culture since childhood. The trip with her husband was special because it was the last one they were able to share together. In the chaos of travel and their daily routines, Wilson became aware that he was withdrawing into himself, and a deep sense of sadness began to engulf her. There was a chill to the air, the mornings were enshrouded in fog, and gentle misty rain created a blanket of silence. She was surrounded by the relics of an ancient past that seemed interwoven into the present and future. As Wilson stepped out into the mist early one morning, she felt a deep sense of stillness, peace and joy. It was from this that she was inspired to create this latest exhibit.
Wilson’s career in photography spans 50 years. She has covered portrait and commercial assignments from Europe to the West Coast. She served on the faculty at Brooks Institute through 2010, and she still mentors students in the MFA program. Her work is represented in art galleries, and included in the permanent collection at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the International Photography Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City and the Sherman Hines Museum of Photography in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Wilson will donate a portion of the proceeds from her art sales to Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc., a volunteer hospice organization. Hospice of Santa Barbara “volunteers” its free professional counseling and support services to more than 360 children and adults every month who are experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness, or grieving the death of a loved one.
Wine, refreshments and cheese will be provided at the open house reception. Wilson’s exhibition will be on display at Hospice of Santa Barbara through mid-January.
The mission of Hospice of Santa Barbara, Inc. is to care for anyone experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness, or grieving the death of a loved one. For more information, please call (805) 563-8820 or visit hospiceofsantabarbara.org.
