Our Visions of Hope installation was on display in September and October at the Marin County Civic Center. It highlighted the art and stories of individuals impacted by incarceration in California, offering a rare glimpse into their struggles and experiences. Visitors described it as “absolutely captivating” and expressed gratitude for gaining new perspectives.

Over its run, more than 35,000 people viewed the exhibit, and it was featured in the Marin Independent Journal.

Throughout these last four months of 2024, we continued to participate in Arts Alive!, Petaluma’s vibrant arts community. We hosted an artmaking event in partnership with WonderStump!, opened our studio for the community to create Halloween decorations (with pumpkins donated by The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria), and focused on finding happiness and gratitude in creating fall leaves with messages of appreciation and blessings. We also honored the holiday season by bringing together the community to create beauty, joy, and healing by gathering and decorating Life On Art’s signature wooden winged-hearts. All of our Arts Alive! events are free to the public and we estimate that 50 people participated.

In conjunction with Visions of Hope, we partnered with The People’s Commission for Integrity in Criminal Justice to host a panel discussion about California’s models for rehabilitation, human rights, and post-conviction review. Held at the Marin County Civic Center-Board of Supervisors Chambers, two of California’s leading public defenders provided an analysis of recent state criminal justice reforms and offered innovative solutions. Approximately 50 people attended this event, including county supervisors and judges.

We opened our studio to our wonderful partners at the Aqus Foundation to host a convening for mental health professionals. This facilitated networking opportunity enabled small group conversations on topics such as neurodiversity-affirming therapy, couples counseling, chronic pain/illness, LGBTQIA+ and gender-affirming therapy, and grief/loss. Approximately 85 people attended this event.

We partnered with HomeFirst, an organization that supports individuals who are unhoused or housing insecure, to facilitate a series of workshops in November and December. "Home Is Where the Art Is” empowers participants in their journey to find a home, improve their lives, and stay housed. This is another of our efforts to use art to help improve individuals' emotional and psychological health and well-being. Nine people made art in the workshops, facilitated by an art therapist. Proceeds of art sales went to the unhoused and housing insecure artists.

After more than two years of being exhibited in the locked facilities at Napa State Hospital, the Unbound art installation was relocated to the Life on Art studio in Petaluma. For the first time, Unbound is now available for public viewing at all of our many events and through monthly guided tours. You can sign up for a tour through our events calendar.

We completed “Unbound, the Documentary,” a film that reflects the creation and impact of Unbound. We invited volunteers to join us for a special sneak peak screening, as they played a critical part in the making of the installation and in supporting our work. We submitted the film into a number of film festivals nationwide, and hope to announce soon where it will be screened.

Life On Art volunteer artists designed and produced one of the featured trees auctioned off by The Fabulous Women of Petaluma. Proceeds were donated to three recipients—The Rwanda School Project and local nonprofits, including Life On Art.

• Growing our HeartWorks program of healing events in our studio to support local communities and individuals in their quest to build well-being and to address mental health concerns. HeartWorks offers participants the opportunity to connect with those facing similar challenges, and to share their stories and experiences by creating artwork and collectively-made sculptures and installations. Look for announcements of upcoming workshops, support groups, yoga classes and more, or register through our events calendar. 

• We launched weekly youth volunteer sessions to create a safe and inclusive space for teens.

• Youth and adult volunteers are adding to our inventory of winged hearts in anticipation of upcoming workshops at state prisons. Our staff are busily preparing to support up to 150 incarcerated men and women starting in April. Volunteer to go with us!

• Continuing our regular monthly “Arts Alive” events.

• Finding new homes for some of our large-scale projects—The Spell, Spellbound, and Visions Of Hope.