We all can enjoy the arts. Creativity and its expression are for everyone, from the visual arts to music, poetry, writing, jewelry, religious relics, and more. Media in myriad forms are constantly being created for human expression since humans began. Our area is fortunate to have many artists and art events represented throughout the year, and preparations for these are also year-round.
The Arts as Medicine
“Thinking of the arts as medicine, arts as healing is innate… In indigenous languages in the country, to my understanding, there is no specific word for art because we live it. How do we remove these institutional silos and recognize the interconnectedness? How do we reconnect what has been disconnected? We operate in these different capacities. We’re all part of a living, connected system. We can’t segment the spirit from the body, from the being, from the community.”—Justin Huenemann, the First Peoples Fund, caucus member, the White House Domestic Policy Council and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
An arts and cultural event, Healing, Bridging, Thriving: A Summit on Arts and Culture in our Communities held on Jan. 30, 2024, was co-hosted by the White House Domestic Policy Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. It offered innovative insights to explore artists’ and arts organizations’ contributions that benefit communities and “invigorate physical spaces, fuel democracy, and foster equitable outcomes.”
At the summit, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said, “… music can, in a matter of seconds, make me feel better.” He spoke from the Constitution Center in Washington, D.C., adding, “I’ve prescribed a lot of medicines as a doctor over the years. There are few I’ve seen that have that kind of extraordinary, instantaneous effect”.
Palmer Lake Art Group announcements and Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts closure
Palmer Lake Art Group (PLAG) announced a new lineup for shows and exhibits throughout 2025. In its recent newsletter it announced that in light of the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts sale and closing, the PLAG board has been busy networking with other artist groups and exhibit locations. Commitments have been made for expanded opportunities for the members to exhibit their work in well-established locations and community events. The PLAG flagship exhibit Winter Art Show is being held at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center in Colorado Springs. The exhibit starts on Feb. 1, and the opening reception is Friday, Feb. 7 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Center, 1805 N. 30th St., Colorado Springs.
Coming up in March, we will have some updates on our local arts venues and locations, so stay tuned!
Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, teacher, and speaker specializing in creative endeavors for health and communities through her indoor and outdoor murals, landscapes, and nature art, and offers local forest bathing hikes. Contact her at JanetSellers@ocn.me
Other Art Matters articles
- Art Matters – Is our education keeping up with visual literacy? (2/4/2026)
- Art Matters – How Gen Z influences our cultural and financial future (12/31/2025)
- Art Matters – Art curation: We all do it, even with holiday trees and gift wrapping (12/4/2025)
- Art Matters – Art shapes our world—and shifts our gaze (10/30/2025)
- Art Matters – October is Arts Month: Artober with Monumental Impact (10/1/2025)
- Art Matters – What is art good for? (9/3/2025)
- Art Matters – We Can’t Unchop a Tree (7/31/2025)
- Art Matters – The many benefits of outdoor art and arts events (7/3/2025)
- Art Matters – On being a sketchy person in the art and cultural sector (6/7/2025)
- Art Matters – May Art Hop and art on the street (5/3/2025)