WEST ORANGE, NJ (April 9, 2025) – The West Orange Arts Council (WOAC) is proud to announce its collaboration with Pathways to Trust’s Reimagining Pain Through Art exhibition, featuring the artistic achievements of artists across the country, including many from West Orange and neighboring towns, who live with rare diseases or use art as a means of coping with chronic pain.
On view at the West Orange Arts Center, 551 Valley Road, West Orange, from April 24 – May 18, 2025, the Reimagining Pain Through Art exhibit is curated by Cheryl Lloyd, Executive Director of Pathways to Trust, and Zakiyyah Williams of Zeal Cre8tive Network™, a Healing Arts and Culture Specialist. Gallery hours are Saturdays from 2-4pm. This exhibit is sponsored in part by Apha Fit Club of Livingston.
Kicking off during the 2025 Garden State Arts Weekend, a series of engaging events at the West Orange Arts Center are planned https://www.pathwaystotrust.org/re-imagining-pain-through-art:
Opening Wine & Cheese Reception
Thursday, April 24, 2025 5 PM – 8 PM
Symphony of Voices: Performed Poetry of Artists Living with Rare Diseases
Friday, April 25, 2025 6 PM – 8 PM
Creative Collage Workshop with Carol Jenkins
Saturday, April 26, 2025 1 PM – 3 PM
Healing Arts: Mindfulness & Meditation
Sunday, April 27, 2025 11 AM – 1 PM
Additional Healing Arts Workshops and Events are being planned throughout the exhibition.
The exhibiting artists, marked by their unwavering resilience and creativity, stand as beacons of hope and courage. Their work serves as both self-expression and therapy, offering inspiration to the broader community while showcasing the transformative power of art in overcoming adversity.
“The West Orange Arts Center remains a vibrant hub where artists can express themselves and engage with others,” says WOAC Chair Patricia Mitrano. “Reimagining Pain Through Art highlights how artistic expression transforms personal experiences into powerful stories of strength, reflection, and connection.”
The West Orange Arts Council is a 501c(3) organization dedicated to promoting the arts in West Orange and providing opportunities for artists and the community to connect through exhibitions, workshops, and events. The West Orange Arts Council’s mission is to cultivate, inspire, and support the arts in West Orange. Area artists and community leaders remain the core of this all-volunteer organization that operates the West Orange Arts Center Gallery and Gift Shop at 551 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ. For more info visit www.woarts.org, www.facebook.com/woac.org, or email info@woarts.org
Pathways To Trust is a 501c(3) organization whose mission is to bring the rare disease patient’s needs to the center of provider, institutional, and industry healthcare treatment goals. Pathways To Trust professional patient advocates design and lead customized educational events to meet the multi-dimensional, real-world validated needs of rare disease patients. Our programs include information about pathophysiology and treatment but go beyond the clinical to encompass the emotional, social/behavioral, and financial issues that complicate living with a chronic rare disease as a member of an underserved population.
Cre8tive Healing Network™ – Established in 2014 in the vibrant Valley Arts District is a fellowship of artists and wellness practitioners dedicated to building an inclusive, community-centered space that honors culture, spirituality, and artistic growth. Serving as a transformative hub where the arts, mental health, and spiritual practices come together to support holistic healing. We offer a nurturing space for creative exploration and therapeutic practices that foster self-discovery, emotional wellness, and personal growth. Through dynamic workshops, events, and personalized sessions, we provide essential resources—including healthcare access, funding, and professional development—to empower artists, healers, and community in their creative, personal, and professional journeys.
This program is made possible partly by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and administered by the Essex County Division of Cultural and Historic Affairs and the New Jersey Arts and Culture Renewal Fund.