MOLLIE JACKSON

Mollie Jackson (she/her) is a Longmont-based artist creating large-scale abstract paintings that pulse with energy. Guided by intuition, she combines layers of paint, expressive mark-making, and collage, channeling raw emotion into visual form and inviting an unspoken connection with viewers.

Mollie has held exhibitions throughout Colorado and is excited to continue growing her practice through the Firehouse residency.

“I’m excited to grow deeper roots in my community and create in a more open, shared way. Painting, for me, is about letting go, expressing, and simply being—and I hope to share that with anyone who feels drawn to explore it.”

In the Firehouse Art Center’s upcoming Día de Muertos exhibit, works will highlight immigrant voices and voices from the communities harmed by the past and current administrations immigration policies, whether from reduced access to health insurance and nutrition aid, to deprivation of the anti-poverty benefits of the Child Tax Credit, to the expansion of immigration detention and general undermining of due process and humanitarian protections.

Migration is a human right, and those in search of safe haven bring new ideas and talents with them. The current administration makes this flow of people and ideas dangerous, though, as those that speak out are exposed to scrutiny and possible retaliation. This exhibit aims to amplify those voices but in a way that is safe and anonymous.  Artists will partner with affected members of the community to translate their stories, experiences and words into works of art which will then be displayed in the Main Gallery where it serves as both reflection and provocation, supporting dialogue, empowerment, and social awareness. The selected artists will represent a range of mediums—painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, film, and design and the stories shared will represent a variety of experiences, perspectives and cultures.

The UN estimates that one out of every seven people in the world is an international or internal migrant who moves by choice or by force. Día de los Muertos is celebrated worldwide but originated in what is now known as Mexico and Central America.  A beloved celebration in Longmont, the holiday is a time to share our ancestor’s stories, honor where we come from, and remember the people that shaped us, but how do we reconcile sharing and celebrating our various cultures when so many are being persecuted? Furthermore, how do we connect to our past, our families, and our heritage as those lineages have been and continue to be forcibly disrupted?

The Firehouse’s goal for this exhibit is to be a safe space to share these stories, making room for discourse on the feelings of fear, dislocation, and shifts in relationship to the word “Home” and “Free Speech”.

“It is clear that this administration has points of views that it wants to uplift and what it wants to see eradicated.  Our goal is to provide a space for these marginalized voices to be heard in a way that is protected from future harm. Much of our programming focuses on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It is evident that funding has been cut significantly for these programs, but it is from this precarious position that we must not capitulate and retreat into silence. Communities are being harmed and our focus is to highlight those voices in a way that is safe, authentic and collaborative. Art cannot remain neutral in the face of injustice, particularly work that speaks to systems that impact immigrant communities”  – Elaine Waterman, Executive Director of the Firehouse Art Center

The call welcomes all artists in the Longmont area above the age of 18. If you speak a language other than English, please note that on your application.  We will also be working with translators to facilitate communication between artists and community members. Accepted mediums include painting, drawing, collage, mixed media, photography, digital art, text-based work, sculpture, installation, fiber arts, and touchable or interactive works.  Please submit your portfolio and resume focusing on work that confronts, reflects on, or challenges political realities—whether global or deeply personal. If you are an artist that wrestles with the dilemma of making art in a time of unrest: how to act, what to say, and what it means to resist, we would love to hear from you.  Credentials matter less than passion and messaging.  If you are an affected community member and an artist and you would like to share your own story, please add that in the notes section of the application.

For community members affected by the current administration’s policies, paperwork is not required and you will be compensated for your time.

Through these collaborations, we hope to harness the power of creativity to ignite conversations, challenge perspectives, and identify common threads while also providing healing and a way to move forward for our community’s betterment.

Exposición del Día de Muertos – RECORDAR ES RESISTIR

Esta exposición busca dar visibilidad a las voces de las personas inmigrantes y de las comunidades que han sido perjudicadas, ya sea por la reducción del acceso al seguro médico y a programas de apoyo alimentario, la pérdida de beneficios como el Crédito Tributario por Hijos (Child Tax Credit), la expansión de la detención migratoria o el debilitamiento del debido proceso y de las protecciones humanitarias.

La migración es un derecho humano. Quienes buscan un lugar seguro para vivir también aportan nuevas ideas, talentos y fortalezas a nuestras comunidades. Sin embargo, la administración actual ha hecho que este camino sea más riesgoso, ya que muchas personas que comparten sus experiencias pueden enfrentar mayor vigilancia, escrutinio o posibles represalias.

Esta exposición tiene como objetivo amplificar esas voces de una manera segura y anónima. Cada artista colaborará con una persona de la comunidad para transformar su historia, experiencias y palabras en una obra de arte que se exhibirá en la Galería Principal. La exposición servirá como un espacio de reflexión y diálogo, promoviendo el entendimiento, el empoderamiento y la conciencia social.

El Día de Muertos es una celebración muy importante para la comunidad de Longmont. Es un momento para compartir las historias de nuestros antepasados, honrar nuestras raíces y recordar a las personas que nos formaron. Pero ¿cómo celebramos nuestras culturas cuando tantas personas están siendo perseguidas? ¿Cómo mantenemos viva nuestra conexión con nuestras familias, nuestra historia y nuestra herencia cuando esos lazos han sido, y siguen siendo, interrumpidos por la fuerza?

Con esta exposición, Firehouse Art Center busca crear un espacio seguro donde estas historias puedan compartirse con respeto. Queremos abrir un diálogo sobre el miedo, el desplazamiento y la manera en que han cambiado nuestras ideas de “hogar” y de “libertad de expresión”.

Si habla un idioma distinto al inglés, indíquelo en su solicitud. Contaremos con intérpretes y traductores para facilitar la comunicación entre artistas y participantes.

Si usted ha sido afectado(a) por las políticas de inmigración de la administración actual, no necesita presentar documentación para participar. Además, recibirá una compensación por el tiempo que dedique a este proyecto.

A través de estas colaboraciones, esperamos que el poder del arte inspire conversaciones, cuestione perspectivas, fortalezca los lazos que compartimos y contribuya a la sanación y al bienestar de nuestra comunidad.

Apply as a Community Members- click HERE
Spanish version- HERE

Apply as an Artist- click HERE
Spanish version- Will be posted soon