Traveling art exhibition ‘Signs of Suicide’ debuts in Dayton

It will be on display at K12 for the entire month of January before it moves to the library at Sinclair Community College in February, and to the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base hospital in March.

A reception will be held at 6:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6. Several guest speakers will take the stage to talk about their personal experiences.

“They’re beautiful and so positive,” said Rebecca Sargent, Program Director of K12 Gallery and Tejas, when describing the artwork. “That’s something we’ve tried to uphold during this process.”

The collection contains 15 4’x8’ panels, along with 30 large paintings, created by student and professional artists. These creations will travel to local schools, universities and organizations to educate the public about the signs of suicide.

“The amazing thing about it is you can’t really tell a difference between the professional and student artists,” Sargent said. “It really goes to show just how awesome their abilities are.”

Student artists featured in the show participate in an after-school program called “Artists in Training.” The professional artists debuted are involved because they have understood suicide on a more personal level, having experienced suicide firsthand.

“There’s a woman who worked with us on this project who had recently attempted suicide,” Sargent said.

The exhibit will serve as a visual voice that thoughts and feelings can be expressed in a way that words cannot. The showcase is expected to teach more than 20,000 people about the importance of knowing the signs of suicide.

The overall goal of the art is to expand the discussion, so that those feeling isolated or in a dark place might find hope in the light that is portrayed by these artists and the resources available to them.