yet: Mixed Media Art by bailz

bailz (bailey zembower) is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and advocate. Their work is inspired by observing cycles in nature and Self to create about connection, transformation, and imperfection. With early training focused on music, dance, and sewing, bailz has been primarily self taught in their visual art practices. They have experimented with media over the years as a way to communicate and process lived experience as a queer, mad, disabled person. bailz primarily works with found or upcycled materials - intending to ask viewers to rethink consumption as well as to heal the parts of themself that felt disposable while surviving seasons of life inside hospital systems. 

bailz is committed to empowering young people and communities via equitable access to the arts and by creating brave spaces to express and learn. Through their work as a teaching artist and performer, they hope to provide the communities they are a part of with varied access points for visibility, support, and resources as we move together beyond survival.

yet. explores the journey from protection to empowerment and is an expression of gratitude for the support and witnessing from creative community. bailz has maintained a visual journaling practice for decades, often finding that it was safer and more accurate to document their experience in colors, patterns, and multimedia collages. Many of the pieces in this show are collaborations with themself from 10-15 years ago, when they were making choices out of survival and protection. in creating this show, they returned to sketchbooks from the past to continue or rework their own art while in healing conversation with their past selves - bringing them into the present and giving themself what they would have needed to feel empowered back then. Early in their experience of surviving the mental health system, someone told them that “yet is a word of hope” - when something hasn’t happened yet, we have the power and space to influence the outcome. To celebrate and honor the community that has empowered them, yet.

yet will be on view daily through Saturday 3/29. 25% of each sale will benefit the library.

A closing reception with bailz will be held on Saturday 3/1, 12pm-1:30pm. Prior to the reception, bailz is hosting a community choreography class and movement parade at Art in Motion (1001 Main Street Floor 2). More information may be found at bailzjustbeing.com