There are thousands upon thousands of people in this country, likely hundreds in this county alone, who live in darkness daily.
Whether it be on the streets, in ghettos, on a friend or relative’s couch or even on the search for low-income, affordable housing — for a person with no real place to call home, life can seem endlessly gloomy, like a lingering Northwest winter.
But as is typical in both life and the Pacific Northwest, every so often, if only for a moment, rays of hope shine through the blackened clouds, dashing color into that darkness.
It’s in those flashes of light and color where Gwen Guidici likes to dwell.
The Pacific Northwest-born-and-raised oils artist said she endured a darker than usual winter last year and as another six months of gray loom in the not so distant future, she wanted to share the brightness of her painting with those in need.
She’s currently exhibiting “Art for Humanity,” a solo show of illumined landscape and still life works at Silverdale’s Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery at 3255 NW Lowell St. through Sept. 12.
In an attempt to magnify the light created by the show, she will, as she is accustomed to doing, be donating 10 percent of the proceeds to Habitat For Humanity of Kitsap County.
That organization brings families in need together with community volunteers and resources to help them build decent affordable housing for themselves. Since 1992, a total of 33 homes have been built throughout the county, providing for 43 adults and 83 children, according to the Habitat Kitsap’s Web site.
After visiting a new house in the Habitat’s newest and largest project called New Hope in Bremerton, Guidici was impressed by it’s brightness.
“I need a lot of light, especially in this place,” she said, referring to the Northwest. “Where you live and your surroundings are very important. You absorb what’s around you.”
In the interest of absorbing art in the place which one lives, Guidici is also sponsoring an essay contest for families within the Habitat program under the premise, “What makes original art special to you?” The winning essay will be awarded her painting “Lavender Fields,” with custom framing provided by the Old Town shop.
Deadline for entries is Sept. 1 and will be handled by the folks at Habitat Kitsap — www.kitsaphabitat.org or call (360) 479-3853.
“I really don’t like the idea of original art only being available for people with a large discretionary income,” she said. “But finding a way to provide art for people who don’t have that is kind of awkward.”
Obviously, artists need to develop their own amount of discretionary income, so giving away their work is not a very typical occurrence. But then again with a devout focus on light and color and beauty, Guidici said she’s not your typical artist in today’s artistic world.
“This is not ‘in’ in the art world, but I can’t help still being captivated by it; so that’s what I’ll paint,” she said, noting her hopes that the show will remind people of the flashes of beauty they’ve seen. “Like a sunset, it’s only there for a brief moment, but we all know how that captivates us and touches us … here the beauty is captured.”
Guidici’s show “Art for Humanity” will hang at Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery at 3255 NW Lowell St. in Silverdale. For more information on the artist visit www.skywaterstudios.com. For more on the gallery visit www.oldtowncustomframing.com or call (360) 698-1507.
