Artist To Present 'Everything’s Fine' Art Show And Talk In Lambertville

LAMBERTVILLE, NJ — Gwenn Seemel (they/them) is doing a different kind of art show: it’s one where you’re invited to hang your work on the wall as well. Specifically, the Lambertville painter wants to see everyone's coloring skills on display.

Seemel is best known for their political work, which has appeared in Newsweek and on the cover of an Oxford University Press book, but, starting October 11, the Lambertville Free Public Library will be exhibiting the artist’s series of surreal paintings about mental health.

"Yearn Signal." (Gwen Seemel)

The collection is called "Everything’s Fine," and it came together over the course of several years. Seemel livestreamed the painting process from their studio, broadcasting the making of this art in real time and chatting with viewers as they worked.

As part of the artist’s ongoing artistic conversation about emotional wellbeing, the painter has now turned their artworks into black-and-white illustrations that visitors can color in and then hang on the wall alongside their paintings. In this, Seemel was inspired by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross who write in their excellent book, "Your Brain on Art."

“The act of coloring itself offers a way to reduce anxiety. Coloring is a structured task that helps bring order to the chaos of life.”

There will be coloring pages available at the library throughout the six-week run of the exhibition, and viewers are encouraged to add their pages to the wall at any time.

And because coloring in company can be more fun, Seemel will be at the library on October 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., armed with markers and their delightful sense of whimsy, for an artist talk and coloring book social.

Art Talk And Coloring Book Social

What: Everything’s Fine art talk and coloring book social.

Where: Lambertville Free Public Library, 6 Lilly Street, Lambertville, NJ 08530.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.