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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Verve: Working through the pain, with art

Ron Holliday, of Spokane, has been through some dark times. In 2010, his 13-year-old daughter jumped off the Monroe Street Bridge. After that, he began to manically paint and take photographs. His paintings seek pure emotional releases, and through photography he tries to find the beauty in seemingly ugly things. His painting, “Poise,” is shown. (Dan Pelle)
Jennifer Larue

Many artists say creating art is therapeutic; it allows them to release emotions and express feelings that are difficult to handle or even understand.

Some say creating art is calming, almost meditative.

Some say that art heals, even saves.

Ron Holliday is very familiar with the power of art; it became his solace after his daughter, Casey, jumped off the Monroe Street Bridge just before her 14th birthday in March 2010.

After his daughter’s death, Holliday picked up a camera and wandered around taking pictures. Like his eyes had changed, he started recognizing beauty everywhere, especially in seemingly ugly things including the barren, the dirty, the condemned, snippets of graffiti, and, in his human subjects, the complexity beneath a smile.

Holliday exhibited his photographs mounted on foam board at Object Space, Terrain, and the Globe.

On the third anniversary of his daughter’s death, he took a series of photos of the Monroe Street Bridge, a place he has feared to tread.

“It was very therapeutic for me,” he said. Beneath the majestic beauty of the bridge, he found piles of needles and a book in which someone had filled every page with madness.

Holliday relates to the concept of madness; he has struggled with addiction, and understands the ramifications of unaddressed pain and fear. He has panic attacks. As of late, painting has been helping.

By day, he works as an intern architect, and, by night or whenever the urge hits him, he paints. He picked up a brush about a year ago and started applying paint to every flat surface he could find.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “Through painting, I’m able to work through things.”

His work is seemingly dark and chaotic but, upon further inspection, hidden images or words appear deep within the layers.

“My paintings so far are a look into my soul and the pain that comes with loss,” Holliday said. “They may morph as the pain subsides.”

Looking for an outlet for his creations and a way to connect and share with others, Holliday started a group called Local Artist Collaborative Project and he put on a show in a friend’s garage in 2011. About six months ago, he, along with artist Laura White, started a group called La Resistance. He and White curated the group’s first show in November at Object Space, 1817 ½ E. Sprague Ave. In March, Holliday plans to display his work at Jones Radiator, 120 E. Sprague Ave.

Holliday’s work sells well and he has been commissioned to portray others in his own style, a style founded on the complexity of life: the ugly, the beautiful and everything in between.