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What If...

Stained Glass Garden is a touchable, scented sand or salt crystal tabletop garden inhabited by regifted animal figurines. The materials are chosen to engage across human senses, touch, scent, vision, and sound. A collection of small animal figurines that a regular customer of Urban Therapeutic kindly bestows upon the business pays forward the generosity of the downtown community. The box base, wrapped with a stained glass drawing, reflects on the artist's experiences as a child in church, where she found her method for focusing and relaxing by staring at the stained glass windows. The act of drawing stained glass has since become a soothing and focusing practice for the artist. She hopes that all of the elements of the Stained Glass Garden will be soothing and relaxing for you.

The Distance Between Us

Lisa Sansevere:

Introduction:
I have run into Lisa regularly since moving to Eugene and enaging the art scene. She is one of the artists I look forward to running across at an event, because she so quick to offer gratitude and feedback and insight.

Bio:
When asked what her artwork means, Lisa Sansevere states: "It is important to me because it is something I am able to do." Legally blind, Lisa begins her drawings with a black Sharpie so she is able to see the high contrast. This gives her intuitive drawings reference points for the overall composition. She is inspired by stained-glass windows and takes pride in her choice of colors. When Lisa is not drawing in studio, she is painting on canvas. Her themes include outdoor scenes and waterfalls. Lisa is a major figure behind the Look Me in the Eye advocacy campaign and will be happy to talk to you about the rights of people with disabilities. She is always ready to help anyone in need, and has a knack for coming up with aphorisms in any situation. Lisa is a celebrated crew member at Threadbare Print House in Eugene.

Urban Therapeutic:

Introduction:
If there is one business owner along Willamette Street that can take credit for this project's success, and there isn't, but if there was, it would be Brenda, the owner of Urban Therapeutic. From the minute I walked into her shop she was asking how she could help make The DIstance Between Us happen. The idea of socially engaged art made perfect sense to her immediately. The confidence that maybe this weird idea could become a reality was born in Urban Therapeutic.

Bio:
Brenda Stebbeds, owner of Urban Therapeutic, is a Eugene native with eleven years of professional massage experience and a degree in Business Management. Brenda started Urban Therapeutic because she "saw a need in our community of professional therapy workers". Brenda's business esthetic is as holistic as the products she sells. She believes in building her business based on the needs of the community she serves, even when those needs change. "Our space has a way of 'expanding' when we need to, and 'contracting' when necessary. I base growth on what I perceive to be the best opportunity for support in the community". [Excerpt from Lane Community College SBDC Newsletter June 2018 | Written by: Cassie Brabham]