At some point in our lives, violence and trauma will touch all of us – sometimes directly, sometimes through the lives of those we love, and often through experiences that remain unspoken. Trauma can arise from many sources: harm caused by another, loss, displacement, illness, systemic injustice, or witnessing suffering. Each experience is personal, shaped by circumstance, memory, culture, and the body’s own ways of surviving. Across these varied experiences, a shared need remains—to be met with care, dignity, and respect.

Hope Is Beyond Words reflects our deep interconnectedness. The words and artworks shared here come from individuals within our community—people whose experiences occurred in Beaverton or Washington County, or who live, work, or have received support locally. This exhibition makes space for many voices and many ways of surviving, recognizing that healing is not an endpoint, but an ongoing, deeply personal process—one that is often strengthened through connection, witnessing, and care.

This exhibition is guided by a trauma-informed lens—one that begins with compassion. Rather than asking what is broken, it asks what has been endured. Responses to trauma—such as heightened awareness, emotional distance, or fragmented memory—are not failures, but natural human adaptations to overwhelming moments. These effects may linger quietly or surface unexpectedly. Each person carries their story differently, shaped by history, context, and access to support. All of these responses are valid, because healing does not follow a single path.

Included with the individual works are The Nest Project, a human-sized nest and accompanying photographs, as well as the larger-than-life Cocoon. Survivors and care workers came together to help construct these forms, shaping them through shared presence and intention. Within these spaces, participants were invited to reflect and share their stories in ways that honor choice, consent, and self-determination. These structures have become both physical forms and emotional containers—places to exist, to be held, and to create safety. Through this process, participants reclaim space for agency, tenderness, and resilience. Rooted in care, creativity, and connection, these projects invite participants to explore healing and safety while building relationships and community.

Within this understanding, healing is not about fixing or forgetting. It is about creating environments where safety, choice, and dignity are supported and upheld. Healing is often nurtured through presence—through being believed, listened to, and allowed to move at one’s own pace. Sometimes there are no words for pain, and simply sitting alongside another person becomes a form of care. Even in the midst of grief and loss, the human spirit holds an extraordinary capacity for resilience, tenderness, insight, and hope. In Hope is Beyond Words, we invite viewers to move gently, to observe with compassion, and to consider how safety is built, how care is practiced, and how community can hold us with greater wholeness.

As one survivor shares:

Although my experience does not define me, it is part of my life story—a part I have claimed. In claiming it, I bring awareness to experiences that are too often unseen or unspoken. Trauma can affect anyone, across gender, race, class, ability, or religion—whether lived personally or recognized in someone you love. Your story matters. You matter.

— EC, Survivorscape

Supported by City of Beaverton and City of Beaverton Police Department

IMAGE: Joyful Stars by Atlanta by Donna Severson | PlumWild Photography

INSIGHTS:

4/1 Between Breaths: A Resting Frequency

4/3 Opening Reception & First Friday

4/8 Reclaim/Reclama Presented by Sarq*

4/18 Resting in Resonance w/ Gabriel & Shana*

5/1 First Friday Art Walk

5/7 Nestbuilding Workshop*

*Free with a reserved ticket.