ArtStreet at Harwood

ALBUQUERQUE, NM / ArtStreet, a program of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless, and Harwood Art Center join together to present Blossoming, a collection of individual and collaborative works made by the artists and representatives of ArtStreet.

With the world opening back up from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an air of rebirth coming into light in the Albuquerque community. Blossoming is a visual representation of this renaissance featuring a collection of 2D and 3D works made by the artists and representatives of ArtStreet. The exhibition features individual work and a collaborative installation and will showcase the new life beginning to grow within these communities through the depictions of flora and fauna cascading through the space.

As ArtStreet reflects, “It is no doubt that everyone was affected in some way by the COVID-19 pandemic, most notably individuals experiencing homelessness who were further separated from vital resources and safe spaces to spend time in. Now that the world is returning more fully to the hustle of pre-pandemic life - and the ArtStreet studio alongside it - there is much to contemplate regarding how things have changed and stayed the same. ArtStreet is proud to be a place for individuals in the community to create art, learn new skills, and connect with other artists as a means of processing and providing visual commentary for the changes that take place in our lives. Blossoming is a collection of works from artists pre- and post- pandemic that showcases the changes that flow over time.”

ArtStreet’s mission is to provide caring and comprehensive health and integrated supportive services, linking people experiencing homelessness to individual and collective solutions, and to be a leader in implementing innovative service models and a catalyst for solutions to homelessness, upholding a commitment to diversity and equity. ArtStreet is dedicated to providing marginalized communities access to the arts, by offering a safe space for artists to create art, learn skills and connect to artistic people.

People who are experiencing homelessness or in transition often deal with multiple losses, trauma, and isolation and need a low-threshold, safe way to reconnect with community and access supportive services. ArtStreet’s Arts-In-Health model integrates arts programming within AHCH healthcare services, engaging people in creative therapeutic processes as approaches to change and wellness.

Access to the arts is a social justice issue. ArtStreet makes access to the arts available to everyone, while holding space to build community connections and increase awareness of the issues of homelessness through the art-making process. Harwood Art Center is to grateful to welcome back ArtStreet for this exhibition, marking 26 years of deep missional alignment and exhibitional partnership with Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless.

You are invited to an Exhibition Reception on Saturday, February 4th from 4:30-6:30pm at Harwood Art Center. This event is open to all and will be such an exciting way to kick off exhibitions at Harwood in 2023.

Blossoming will be displayed January 18 to February 23, 2023 at Harwood Art Center. Galleries are accessible to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information on Harwood Art Center, visit www.harwoodartcenter.org

Blossoming is supported, in part, by funding from New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, NM CARES, the National Endowment for the Arts, and private and public contributions.

ArtStreet gives community artists a common forum to share their experiences, coming together to make art and organize public exhibits like this. One component of the ArtStreet program is a community-based open art studio. ArtStreet brings together people from diverse backgrounds, socioeconomic levels, and artistic abilities to share common experiences by making art in a safe and supportive environment. All proceeds from the sale of ArtStreet art go directly to the artist(s) who created the piece.

ABOUT HARWOOD ART CENTER

Seeded in 1991, Harwood Art Center blooms the philosophy of our parent organization Escuela del Sol
Montessori, with recognition that learning and expression offer the most resilient pathways to global
citizenship, justice and peace. Harwood engages the arts as a catalyst for lifelong learning, cultural
enrichment and social change, with programming for every age, background and income level. We believe that equitable access to the arts and opportunities for creative expression are integral to healthy individuals and thriving communities. In all of our work, we cultivate inclusive, reflective environments where everyone feels cared for. We nurture long-term, multi-faceted relationships with participants, building programs with and for diverse communities of Albuquerque. We integrate the arts with social justice, professional and economic growth, and education to cultivate a higher collective quality of life in New Mexico.

ABOUT ALBUQUERQUE HEALTH CARE FOR THE HOMELESS AND ARTSTREET

For over three decades, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH) has served our community as the only health care organization in Central New Mexico dedicated exclusively to providing services to homeless people. AHCH provides critical services to over 7,000 men, women and children every year. By addressing the health-related causes of homelessness, AHCH makes it possible for people to find solutions to end their homelessness.