The Gathering Place Art Galleries

Debbie Clapper

Conscious Growth

Debbie Clapper Artist Statement and Bio:
 

Debbie Clapper, aka gneural, is a self-taught artist creating bold, abstract art for modern spaces. No rulers or compasses are used in her originals, giving every line a rhythmic, kinetic, and powerful pulse. At age nine, she began honing her freehand skill and hasn’t stopped drawing since. Her unique, playful designs often inspire feelings of joy and movement, influenced by Op Art, architecture, patterns, and graffiti.

Debbie’s art extends beyond walls. She frequently collaborates with Cacheflowe, a software developer, to create interactive installations. Their projects blend technology and creativity, resulting in dynamic pieces that change across surfaces and spaces for an engaging experience.

Debbie’s designs have elevated brands like Boulder Arts + Culture, City of Boulder, NINE dot ARTS, Pactimo, and Smartwool. She has been featured on podcasts and won multiple awards for her work. In 2023, she was part of Downtown Cleveland’s City Advocates Cohort, promoting an inclusive urban environment.

-----

Contact Debbie: Instagram @debbieclapperart and @gneural 

 

Please join us for an art reception at The Gathering Place East on Thursday, August 14th from 4:30-6:30pm. 

 

Debbie is donating 30% of her proceeds to TGP.

Kathleen Stefancin

The Healing Bench 

Kathleen Stefancin Artist Statement and Bio:
 

I am a native of Cleveland Ohio and have walked the Cleveland Metroparks trails and watched the Lake Erie sunsets thousands of times. And then one day, I heard a whisper and I was called to photograph her beauty. I’ve taken over 20,000 nature photographs and continue to spend time in her presence where I feel nurtured and loved.

The peace I feel in nature has allowed an opening for me to explore what it means to heal from trauma. The passing of both parents at the same time to Alzheimer's and Lewi Body Dementia was traumatizing, painful and devastating.

This experience brought forth another trauma from childhood that I feel was ready to be explored and healed. When I was 13 years old, my dad woke up blind and never recovered his eyesight. That moment of sadness had been frozen in time. The loss of my dad as I knew him was shocking and a blur. It seemed I grew up quickly after that, never again to be seen by my dad and missing his attention. My dad lived 50+ years with his blindness. He was an amazing man. However, my sadness was frozen in time for those 50+ years and can now have a voice.

After the death of my parents during Covid, I was no longer able to hold what happened to them and the trauma from my past. My love of nature has allowed me to look for the first time at what is going on in my inner world including feelings and needs that wanted to be expressed and released.

As I began my work with Melissa Seligman, a trauma companion, I would often sit on a bench at Rocky River Park and reflect on things we talked about. I was pulled to take pictures of this bench not knowing that it would become the center point of this exhibit.

There are 29 healing benches in this exhibit. Each bench is named by a need or feeling and is accompanied by three questions written by Melissa Seligman that were presented to me to reflect upon as I sit/sat on this healing bench. We invite you to explore them too.

-----

Kathleen Stefancin is a nature photographer, poet, award-winning children’s book author and registered dietitian. My hope is that these creative works offer an opening for your healing. Please visit www.smartpicks.com

Melissa Seligman is a trauma survivor, a companion for those experiencing trauma, and someone who believes there is always more love than pain. And love heals.

-----

Contact Kathleen on Facebook.

 

Please join us for an art reception at TGP West on Saturday, July 19 from 12:00-2:00pm.

 

Kathleen is donating 20% of her proceeds to TGP.