An exhibit featuring works by Fort St. James artist Lauren Aldred graces the Vanderhoof Public Library during the month of January.
"It's multi-media," she told the Express. "It's poetry, paintings and photography."
Titled From Creation: Land-Based Healing and Wellness, the exhibit tells the story of Aldred's ongoing healing from PTSD and major depressive disorder acquired while working in health care.
She lives about a half-hour drive outside of Fort St. James in the bush which she described as spiritual and healing.
"My show chronicles my relationship with the land."
Singling out one of the pieces in the exhibit - Messenger - she explained it is about her encounter with an angel during a near-death experience.
"It was an overwhelming presence of peace and love and I think that's what propelled me into pursuing an education and a career in spiritual health. We used to be called hospital chaplains but now it's spiritual health practitioners."
She has not returned to the profession, however, because of her injuries, she added.
Her first exhibition of the show was November 2023 in Fort St. James at Pope Mountain Arts, from there it travelled to Prince George at Omineca Arts, two schools in Quesnel and St. Stephen's College in Edmonton.
"I am completing a Doctorate in Ministry at St. Stephen's College in Land-Based Healing and Wellness. I completed my spiritual health training at St. Paul's in 2008 and 2014," she said.
So far the response to the exhibit has been positive, she said.
"People have told me they find it encouraging, hopeful and uplifting. People who are suffering from mental health issues, particularly, have told me it is hopeful."
Aldred said she is of mixed heritage.
"I am English and mixed Plains Indigenous and I'm Non-Status."
Living about a half-hour drive from Fort St. James in the bush, she shares her property with dogs and chickens.
She enjoys canoeing, snowshoeing, medicine gathering and hiking.
"It's really beautiful and peaceful. There is still wild land here."
The mom of four grown adults, she has one granddaughter.
Aside from creating art, Aldred facilitates land-based healing and wellness at continuing education, undergraduate and graduate levels and teaches Art-for-Wellness and presents workshops and conferences. Recently she taught in Vancouver School of Theology's Indigenous Ministries summer school, at the College of New Caledonia and developed a module for the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine, continuing education.
Aldred said the exhibit became part of a Health Health Care Project through the University of Northern British Columbia's Health Arts Research Centre and was featured in a documentary.
For as long as she can remember she has gravitated toward creating art.
Family lore suggests she wrote her first poem at 14-months-old and dictated it to her grandmother, she said, adding she began painting in 2005.
An opening of the show takes place Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 5:30 p.m., hosted by the Nechako Community Arts Council and the Vanderhoof Public Library in the multipurpose room.
The exhibit runs until Jan. 29, 2024.
