the fresh stART art project

 

the fresh stART project is a collaborative work of art created by 31 women from 12 states, ages 22-80 that celebrates the courage to begin again. Created by Deane Bowers, this community-driven initiative was created for women by women and honors resilience in the face of adversity. 

Each of the 31 participants share a personal story of healing and starting over through 63 different individual compositions. Most of the women are not professional artists, yet created beautiful and heartfelt pieces that celebrate rising above heart break and setbacks. the fresh stART artwork measures 4' x 5' x 2' and is a vibrant collaboration that is a visual reminder of change and fresh starts. It is a creative symbol of solidarity, hope, healing an sisterhood. The message is clear; no matter who you are or where you might be in life, fresh starts are always possible. 

Born out of a need for connection and emotional refuge, the fresh stART art project was conceived through an open call for participation. The project began with 18 contributors and quickly grew to 31 as the story organically unfolded. The artwork is built on a wooden canvas and is composed of 63 individual square compositions. Each square was originally a piece of repurposed cardboard, serving as a reminder that even the materials used for this project have capacity for change and second chances. 

The only guidelines the contributors were given for this project was a single prompt: "How do you overcome adversity and begin again? What does a fresh start mean to you?"

It took three years to complete and quickly grew into a community of women from across the country that spans generations and geography. Though strangers at the start, the group became a community through the creative process. Using materials as diverse as mixed media, collage, clay, paper, oil paint, photography and fabric, these women transformed recycled cardboard squares into windows of strength, healing and hope. As a result, the fresh stART artwork is more than a work of art; it's a heartfelt offering of solidarity and sisterhood as well as a creative invitation to heal. 

The 31 contributors span multiple generations and professions-teachers, nurses, lawyers, graphic designers, administrators, entrepreneurs, artists, designers, writers and more. They represent states from South Carolina to Hawaii, California to New York as well as Washington State, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana. Together, through art, they found meaning, connection and courage. the fresh stART art project is both a finished work and an ongoing invitation to reflect, to rise and to begin again. 

The artwork is now out in the world on traveling exhibit and being used as an opportunity to co-create meaningful discussions of change and second chances. There is the desire to share it more widely with organizations that are mission-driven and healing focused. We continue to explore ways to use this project as a unique way to uplift and connect communities by encouraging open conversations about resilience and transformation. 

the fresh stART artwork doesn't just shift perspectives-it heals. It holds people, exactly where they are and gently reminds them that something beautiful can still grow from the hardest parts of our stories. The journey from start to finish has been captured on Instagram@fresh_start_project.