Art Verité Gallery

In general, view, leaving is seen as an act of cowardice – of running away and not facing the responsibilities placed on you. But sometimes, putting distance between yourself and the situation may be what is needed. The act of self-distancing permits a person to create space between them and whatever situation or problem it is that may be inhibiting their growth or causing them stress. Through this, it allows one to gain a new perspective, reflect, and heal. To distance one’s self from the problem may not necessarily mean complete abandonment, but rather moving away from the chaos of life for the time being, and coming back again a changed person – more able and wiser to face life once again.

In “Long Distance, Full Circle”, the artist explores the transformative power of distance in healing. Using watercolor, paper, and graphite, Alvarez documents her thoughts, experiences, and lessons she has learned in one year of living on her own through a variety of artworks. The exhibit features a series of works that reflect on the artist’s personal experiences of contrition and reconciliation, of finding herself and of healing through distance. Through her work, the artist encourages viewers to understand that distance can be used as a tool for self-discovery and growth – not just simply a means of escape – bringing one to a realization that perhaps, sometimes one might need to step outside of the picture in order to see the bigger picture.

Written by Steph Alvarez