The Exhale Project Exhibit
How thrilling it is for me to share this post regarding my daughter Heather’s exhibit titled The Exhale Project - Taking A Moment To Breathe And Reflect. Throughout this past week we’ve been hanging the work in the Glen Vista Gallery at our local nature center. Click the link for Arts at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan. If you are in the region, we’d love for you to see it, and take a moment to write a note that will help expand the project (see Artist Statement below.)
Providentially, this project started before COVID and mask mandates. God knew people would need the encouragement to breathe freely, especially in nature. Breath is the essence of life. “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” Genesis 2:7
So, take a moment to breathe and reflect on God’s life giving love for you today. As you do, you will be blessed and be able to bless others In Jesus Name! Go forth bold, blessed, and brilliant. Thank you for sharing, subscribing, and commenting below. (Note: Sorry for the poor quality photos quickly taken on my phone. The artwork is so much more beautiful in real life.)
The Exhale Project Heather Briggs
On view in the Glen Vista Gallery April 22 – July 24, 2022
The Exhale Project is a time capsule of hopes and worries that was created pre-COVID. The installation has over 500 origami cranes, and displays a selection of touching, handwritten notes from participants. The exhibit encourages viewers to take a moment to breathe and reflect, and to contribute notes for future exhibits.
Heather Briggs has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in photography from Andrews University and has exhibited her work at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and ArtPrize. She lives and works in Kalamazoo. Look for Briggs’s work in Trailhead Gifts & Books this spring and summer!
THE EXHALE PROJECT
TAKING A MOMENT TO BREATHE AND REFLECT
BY HEATHER BRIGGS
The Exhale Project by Heather Briggs
ARTIST STATEMENT
Processed paper folded into a crane.
At the beginning of 2020, I started collecting handwritten responses relating to this project. Little did I know what that year had in store. I originally envisioned this work to be a reminder to take time for physical and mental health. Never did I imagine how relevant this installation would be in relationship to what was to come. To me, all the notes I collected were small time capsules holding the worries and hopes of a time before the world turned upside down.
In the past, I’ve done bodies of work that have shared my personal story. This time, however, I wanted to provide an opportunity for the community to share their thoughts. We know that thoughts and feelings become words and actions that affect ones self and everyone around them. So, I wanted to encourage people to recognize and release their thoughts and feelings in a manner that is healing for themselves and the community. When a community intentionally exhales together, there is a more tangible, and unifying atmosphere. It is easier to endure the hard times, and more enjoyable when celebrating the good times.
With this in mind, the two questions I asked the participants to answer were, “What things are worrying you or giving you stress right now?” And, “What is inspiring you or giving you hope?” I asked these questions because I’ve found that writing is healthy for your mental state, as intentional breathing is healthy for your physical state. When applying these two acts together, they prove to be very synergistic.
To put these thoughts and feelings into a tangible form, several steps were involved to bring the project to fruition. First, I scanned the participants handwritten notes into a digital file. Then, I made these files into negatives and sun printed them on cyanotype paper.
The cyanotype process is a form of alternative photography. The UV rays from the sun expose the paper. As the sheet develops in water, it turns into a beautiful cyan blue. Wherever the sunlight did not touch, the paper stays white. This creates a variety of contrast and tones in each exposure. Every print is unique. After letting the paper dry and pressing the sheets flat, I start folding the paper into origami cranes. Even though folding the cranes is a repetitive task, I find it meditative and enjoyable.
There are more than 550 hanging cranes, and 12 portraits that make up the base form. Before I took the portraits, I asked the participants to write their responses to my questions. I intentionally asked them to think what they had written, and to let go of those thoughts as they breathed out. As they exhaled, I captured the moment of release.
For 2022’s installation at the Kalamazoo Nature Center, I was given free reign to take over the Glen Vista Gallery. At first, the amount of wall space was overwhelming. Then the overwhelming feeling turned into excitement. I have always wanted to display the individual notes I collected in 2020. I had to open the time capsules and share them with the community.
To utilize the space, I’ve selected 46 out of the 200 plus notes that have visually and contextually inspired me. Some of the notes are tearjerkers, whereas others are full of hope. Some have simple, honest everyday responses, but to me, each one is special. I’m thankful for each person that took the time to contribute to The Exhale Project.
Special thanks goes out to all the volunteers who helped me with folding the cranes, set up, organizing, etc. Thank you so much!!
Please feel free to join this community and expand the project by writing your thoughts at the note stations.
Where to connect: @the.exhale.project theexhaleprojectconnect@gmail.com