'Collage Conversations' art-making program launches at Sharpsburg's Ketchup City Creative

A pilot program at Sharpsburg’s Ketchup City Creative (KCC) will celebrate the emerging local art scene and support the gallery as a community art-making center.

“Collage Conversations,” hosted by O’Hara resident Lauren Broyles, will launch in September with a two-part workshop.

The inaugural program will mark National Recovery Month and aim to reduce the stigma attached to addiction and mental health through art and personal storytelling, Broyles said.

“Part One involves a few sessions where people can create a collage about their recovery journey, where they are right now in recovery and a favorite recovery quote,” she said.

These will be Sept. 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Sept. 12 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Materials will be provided.

Part Two, Broyles said, will offer people the chance to exhibit their work at the Main Street gallery from Sept. 17-19.

The event is free but registration is required due to limited space.

Nanci Goldberg, owner of KCC, said the pandemic has expanded her focus for the space.

“I had always wanted it to be more of a community art space but I needed help,” she said.

“I think the pandemic helped many of us realize how much art and creating sustains us, and I have found wonderful helpers to make KCC come back to life.”

Broyles has sponsored previous collage-making events at KCC and hoped to host one as a creative outlet for people in recovery.

It dovetails an effort started in the borough by former St. Juan Diego Pastor Mike Decewicz. He founded the Addiction Recovery Ministry to offer workshops, meetings and fundraisers for people and families suffering from addiction.

The ministry recently moved to Harmar and is scheduled to have a grand opening Sept. 12 at St. Francis of Assisi Church.

Broyles said she is working to combat stigma and hopes that people will join the workshops to share in stories of growth, change and healing.

People in recovery who live, work or attend meetings in Sharpsburg are invited. Other are invited to join a mailing list to be kept up to date on future events.

“We are definitely seeing a need and interest in creative workshops for all ages,” Goldberg said. “We are working very hard to have some for free or very low cost to make them as accessible as possible.”

The gallery is at 612 Main Street.

To register, email Broyles at SorayaDaisyCollage@gmail.com