Effects of War: Polus Center Art Exhibition

The Polus Center for Social & Economic Development, a Massachusetts based non-profit organization, will be hosting an art exhibition at Northampton’s Anchor House of Artists in October featuring paintings by local artist Gregory Stone (1947-2016) photographs by Stephen Petegorsky, as well as paintings by Syrian refugee children. The artworks exhibited will showcase individuals from around the world whose lives have been influenced by the work of the Polus Center. The subjects range from coffee farmers in Latin America and Africa to Syrian refugees, most of whom have lost limbs as civilian victims of conflict, landmines, and explosive remnants of war.

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The purpose of the exhibit is to recognize the people who often go unnoticed and to offer an intimate view of those who have been involved in the Polus Center’s development projects over the past three decades. The paintings by Syrian refugee children are a part of the Polus Center’s program in Jordan that uses art as a means of psychological trauma therapy for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. The paintings mirror the stages of their treatment process as the images move from violent depictions of war and conflict to subjects invoking hope, catharsis, and overcoming.

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For more than thirty years the Polus Center has been assisting people with disabilities around the world through rehabilitation and vocational services to help them become recognized as valued members within their communities. What makes the Polus Center unique is its person-centered approach to development. Person-centered means developing meaningful relationships with people whom the Polus Center assists by visiting them at their homes and hearing their stories first-hand. The Polus Center prioritizes connecting with people in order to learn who they are and hear what they have to say, to help them help themselves. This emphasis on learning about individuals’ unique situations and needs allows people to have their voices heard. Including artists in this process is an integral part of the Polus Center’s methodology, as it allows individuals to be recognized more fully, not as mere recipients of services, but as people equally worthy of artistic representation.

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The exhibit will be displayed at the Anchor House of Artists in Northampton for the entire month of October. The hours of the Anchor House are Wednesday through Saturday, from 3 pm - 6 pm. An informal reception will take place from 6 pm - 8 pm on Monday, October 11th, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which will include wine and cheese, and the opportunity to talk with photographer Stephen Petegorsky and CEO of the Polus Center, Michael Lundquist.