“Look. Feel. Create. Heal.”

Art by Sharon Frances

On exhibit November 29 – January 21

Sharon Frances is a mixed-media mosaic artist, photographer and poet, who explores the natural world of Southern California in her work. Using a combination of glass, ceramics, and found objects, Sharon finds joy and provocation in the texture, color and movement of materials. Her journey through depression and recovery from breast cancer informs her creative process, and artistic expression helps her heal. In particular, Sharon is passionate about the role of nature in her life and art. 

Sharon was an educator of children and teachers for twenty-five years, in arts education, language arts, and social justice. She holds a BA in English and Women’s Studies from UC Berkeley, an MA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a PhD in Education from Arizona State University. She co-founded Well Beings Studio to support families impacted by cancer through the arts. Sharon has conducted hundreds of arts workshops; written and produced songs and books for children impacted by cancer, written and produced a play and podcast, and collaborated on a poetry and healing podcast special. Her art and poetry have been published in multiple journals, blogs and magazines.

Sharon lives in Orange County, CA with her partner Matthew and daughter Gillian. Sharon enjoys making commissioned mosaics for patrons and writing poems for anyone who needs one in their life. Please contact her if you are interested.

Artist Statement:  

I believe that everyone is creative, that being in nature, gently moving our bodies, and approaching ourselves with unconditional positive regard brings us closer to ourselves, one another and the world around us. Since my breast cancer diagnosis in late 2017, I learned that I needed to acknowledge creativity in myself. Looking, feeling, and creating became my way of healing. Poetry gave expression to my inner world, my thoughts, feelings, and bodily images during treatment. Block carving and printing grounded me in my body. Taking photographs on my daily nature walks connected me to the outside world that I now appreciated with new wonder. Working with cut glass, pottery shards and found objects in mosaics changed my view of myself from being broken to being transformed. Exploring each art medium in relation to nature has helped me build new worlds, new wholes, new life … a new me. As an outcome of the exhibition, I hope audiences will feel moved to be creative and to take action to care for themselves and their natural worlds.

Meet the Artist: Sharon Frances will hold a reception and art-making workshop on January 7, from 4:00-6:00pm.  During the free art workshop (5-5:30pm), participants will create shadow flower watercolor paintings. 

Gallery Hours (September - June)

Tuesday - Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday 1 p.m.  to 6 p.m.

Saturday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

There is no charge for viewing the art exhibit and free parking is available.  Please note: Parking passes are required on weekdays.  Prior to parking, please stop in the loading zone outside the glass lobby doors (on Titan Way), enter the lobby and proceed to the Main Office on the left.  You will be issued a temporary pass to park in our lot behind the theatre for the duration of your visit.