After a twenty-year hiatus, Jeffrey Dorsey began painting once again. Over five years, twelve rich and intimate portraits emerged, each portraying someone with a full and remarkable story. He calls the project Another Light: Making Space for Healing. From the start it was clear that Jeffrey didn’t want a typical “show” of his paintings. He wanted a catalyst for personal reflection, and a space for community engagement. Okay Then’s Marc Rettig worked with Jeffrey to create something beautiful.

Marc interviewed each of the twelve portrait subjects, and transcribed the conversations. He “swam in the data” to find and assemble short stories that can change how people see the paintings by revealing the deep human experience and difficult questions of each life they represent. That audio was paired with each painting through a QR code, in the exhibit, the program, the exhibition book and in the future gallery site.

Another Light spans an entire month of community activities, and Jeffrey needed a web site to spread the word. We designed and built the site, with all the details and a calendar of events. See anotherlight.art.

Marc’s background in creating great human experiences came in handy as we thought through the experience of visitors ot the exhibition. The result: a series of signs, a printed program, a guest book, and a continually-updated calendar of events.

The work matters when it comes to life. Thanks to Jeffrey’s soulful process and creative depth, this work came to life in countless moments of reflection, conversation, connection and play.

These images, stories and voices will stay meaningful for a long time to come. Where do they live when the exhibition ends, and how can we equip Jeffrey for new opportunities? The site will be converted to a gallery, including all of the audio stories. Jeffrey will keep all of the resources we produced, including photography by collaborator Maranie Staab. Marc made a beautiful exhibition book that documents the show, and allows readers to hear the stories.