Pine Center For the Arts continues to 'leave the light on' for artists in recovery with upcoming exhibition

In 2022, the Pine Center For the Arts in downtown Pine City shared a gallery dedicated to artists in recovery, titled "Leave the Light On."

Now in its fourth year as an annual fixture, the show continues to leave the light on as a spotlight on the intersection of art and healing.

Jack Frechette, who served as Pine Center For the Arts president for the previous two years and now volunteers with the organization, discussed the upcoming September show in an interview on Monday.

'A gathering place for creative people'

Frechette said he was first approached by the Pine Center For the Arts' board when looking for a service opportunity.

"To be honest, I did not consider myself an artist whatsoever," Frechette said. "I didn't really consider myself a terribly huge fan of the arts. I certainly didn't think I knew enough about it to really join an arts organization."

The board's pitch, as Frechette recalls, was a simple one: The organization is "really more of a community center than anything."

"It's a gathering place for creative people to get together, try new things, learn new things, and be inspired by one another," he said.

Bringing forward 'voices that are not often heard'

When he joined the board, Frechette, who is part of the recovery community, said creating a show that championed the craft and stories of people in recovery was important to bridge a gap with the community's understanding of what the process looks like.

"Part of my passion in joining the Pine Center for the Arts was to bring forward voices that are not often heard," Frechette said.

The artists who provide artwork for the "Leave the Light On" galleries also include a written statement about the role art plays in their recovery, and the role their recovery plays in their art.

"It gives our community that does not have a lot of experience with recovery the ability to get in and hear some really intimate details about what these incredible people have been through, and what they're doing to make some pretty significant changes in their lives," Frechette said. "It serves both communities in a really wonderful way."

'A real gift to the community'

Frechette added that over the last three years of galleries, artists have shared "remarkable" stories about struggle, hope, and creativity.

"Using their creativity to sort of describe what that process is like for all of us in recovery is a real gift to the community, I think," he said.

Frechette also said the recovery journeys showcased in the yearly "Leave the Light On" gallery "flies against a lot of assumptions against recovery."

"We are seeing that people trying to make remarkable changes in their lives is not the cleaning up of a mess or shameful work to be done in the dark," he said. "It is incredible work that should be celebrated, and highlighted, and championed in whatever ways we can."

Expanding the scope of submissions

The 2025 "Leave the Light On" exhibition will feature a "major change" from previous galleries.

Frechette explained that this year's show expands the scope from the previous three shows, when requests were sent out to artists specifically in recovery from substance use disorder and addiction.

"This year, after giving it some real thought, we wanted to open up the submissions to anyone in the process of recovery in general," Frechette said.

Submissions for the 2025 gallery are open to anyone who finds themselves using creativity in their process of healing.

"Our hope is to get more voices and some different stories by doing that," Frechette said.

Submissions are open until Aug. 31 via the Pine Center For the Arts website.

A lot of the artists who share submissions for the "Leave the Light On" shows are displaying their work publicly for the first time.

Frechette said the validation that comes from showcasing their art can has made for a "transformative moment" for participants in establishing a sense of community belonging.

"When these artists are putting their works up, it's not just family members or other people in support groups coming by and saying 'great job,'" Frechette said. "It's community members at large who are really taken aback by their stories and their talent."

Frechette said he applauds the courage and faith of artists who share their work as part of the show.

"If you talk to any artist who has done this show in the past, they will tell you it has been a remarkable experience, an overwhelmingly positive experience," he said.

Gallery information

The Leave the Light On exhibition will open on Friday, Sept. 5, with a reception from 4 to 7 p.m.

The show will remain open throughout September, with regular gallery hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Admission is free and open to the public.