I have been a big believer of the power of forgiveness.  A new art exhibit coming to Fishers in the month of May, highlights forgiveness.

Several years ago, artist Carolyn Holder Springer decided that she wanted to try something unique and interesting with her latest approach to her art, so she began “The Forgiving Sea Project.” She said, “The Forgiving Sea was begun in 2015 as a simple gesture to encourage more interaction with visitors to my studio and promote peace. I really wanted to push the traditional boundaries of static gallery-style art and encourage viewers to write on The Forgiving Sea paintings with a name of someone they hoped to forgive.” The spiritual healing of the mind and soul Carolyn hoped would ensue is a release of pain through forgiveness. In addition, she wanted to create a safe environment where visitors could share their feelings without judgment. From that first painting, the project has blossomed into many more paintings.

Ms. Springer begins with an oil painting. Visitors are encouraged to use pastel chalk to write the name of a person they would like to forgive, or a memory they would like to forgive, or anything that lingers in their minds that requires forgiving another person or entity. In the current interactive process, viewers write names of those they wish to forgive on the painting. A new layer of sea waves is painted over the names and washes the names away. The handwriting of the participants can look like tagging or mark-making, building a beautiful layer into the painting. The layers continue to transform into a soulful work of art made by the collective community. As people engage with the work by writing names of those they want to forgive, the names are later covered with paint, making room for the next group of names. Transformed many times, the static painting has many layers beneath its surface as if it were an archeological dig. If the work were x-rayed, thousands of names would be revealed as individual artifacts captured in a moment in time. A finished painting has many layers of words and many layers of paint.

As the project grew and progressed, Ms. Springer wanted to involve more of the senses, and she and her musical collaborator, Joseph Lamm, decided to have viewers observe each layer while accompanied by music. The result is a soundtrack that reflects the spirit of The Forgiving Sea Project. Springer and Lamm partnered on this project to engage both the visual and auditory senses of participants.

Come and see what all the excitement is about with Carolyn Springer (artist) and Joseph Lamm (composer), along with Fishers Arts Council, and experience “The Forgiving Sea Project” exhibit at the Collaboration Hub at Hamilton County Community Foundation during our Second Friday Reception on Friday, May 12, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. The Forgiving Sea Project is part of the Arts Council’s celebration of May as Mental Health Month, and The Forgiving Sea Project has healing elements for everyone.

Additional FREE public events will be offered during the month of May, made possible by a grant from Fishers Art + Culture Commission, all located at the Hamilton County Community Foundation.

Saturday, May 6 from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Family Day & Spiritual Healing Event with Gym Roots and the Pranic Healing Community. Join us in playful partnership as we build our relationship with forgiveness through movement and meditation. This is an outdoor event.

Lunch Talks from 12:15-1:00 p.m. – bring your own lunch and join us

Tuesday, May 16: Licensed art psychotherapist Katy Wagner, MA, ATR-P, LMHCA. Learn about the fascinating world of art therapy and the power of the creative process as a way of healing through hands on creative wellness experiential. No skills required, user friendly for all abilities! Thursday, May 25: Artist and Founder of the Forgiving Sea Project, Carolyn Springer, will share the journey of The Forgiving Sea Project from an art painting and installation to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a Q & A session to follow.

The exhibit is open to the public from May 1-26, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays by appointment. To make an appointment, please contact Fishers Arts Council directly.