Upcoming Exhibits & Events
The mission of the Chronic Pain Project is to bring visibility to the invisible experience of living with chronic pain. With art created by people with chronic pain as a catalyst for conversation, the project educates the larger community while promoting communication and understanding.
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A.R.T.S.
Aug 26, 2025 • 1:00pm
Arts Reconnecting Through Sharing
A monthly, online workshop where artists can connect and share their art.
Pay what you can. Suggested $10 donation.
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Prescription for Change: Two Sides of the Healthcare Story
Sept 18, 2025 • 6:00pm
Join us for an evening where medicine meets art in the most human way possible. We're bringing together Dr. Ron Turker, patient-artist McKenna Marvin, and healthcare researcher Dr. Nancy Vuckovic for an honest conversation about navigating chronic pain, the healthcare system, and finding healing through creativity.
Entry fee includes a free sketchbook and pen to encourage the artist in you!
Calm Within the Chaos: Chronic Pain and Art
Finding Calm Within the Chaos: Art as a Tool for Navigating Life's Turbulence
Join Janna Kimel, Executive Director of the Chronic Pain Project, for an inspiring 45-minute presentation exploring how art becomes a vital outlet for processing difficult experiences and finding moments of peace amid life's storms. Through a compelling blend of digital artwork displays and intimate video interviews with artists, this talk reveals how creative expression helps people visualize and work through complex emotions—whether dealing with chronic illness, or other invisible challenges. The session includes an interactive exercise designed to spark your own artistic exploration, followed by an open Q&A where attendees can engage directly with visiting artists from the Chronic Pain Project community. Whether you're an experienced artist, someone curious about art's therapeutic potential, or simply seeking new ways to find calm in chaotic times, you'll leave with practical inspiration and tools to begin your own creative journey toward tranquility.
Free to Attend. No Sign Up Required.
Illuminating the Invisible
The Beauty Behind the Pain • An art exhibit at the Vancouver Community Library
What is the event?
Illuminating the Invisible is a public exhibition of art created by participants in the Chronic Pain Project. The art created is a visual representation of their experience of pain intended to provoke conversation and promote understanding the wide variety of experiences people have with chronic pain.
When is the event?
The exhibit will be up from July 1, 2025 through August 31, 2025. There is no admission fee and anyone can enter the library and see the art on the 3rd and 4th floors whenever the library is open.