Passion Works Celebrates 25 Years of Making Art and the Passion Flower!
One of the most visually exciting places in all of Athens County is the Passion Works Studio, located in Uptown Athens just a block off Court Street. Founded in 1998, the mission of Passion Works is to inspire and liberate the human spirit through the Arts, and the Passion Works Studio creates opportunities for all people to explore and socially connect through the process of making art. They follow the aesthetic lead, talents, and interests of people with developmental differences and support collaborations to encourage vibrant and inclusive communities. Passion Works upcycles otherwise discarded materials and produces environmentally responsible items. No voice, no resource, and no region are abandoned as the studio fosters connection, purpose and belonging.
The signature aesthetic of the Passion Works Studio is vibrant colors, bold lines, and quirky figures, and Athens has lovingly embraced this aesthetic to help beautify the city and keep it feeling funky. In fact, the Passion Works signature art product, The Passion Flower, is The Official Flower of Athens, Ohio. These hand painted sculptures are constructed out of newspaper printing plates sourced via another Chamber member, The Athens Messenger. The spirit of Athens is captured within these blooms and can be spotted throughout town, Ohio University and beyond! Over 35,000 have been sold and demonstrate the power of collaboration, ingenuity, fun, and creative economy.
Passion Works creations add a dash of whimsy to Athens and many local locations and events, including the Nelsonville Music Festival and the Athens Community Music Festival. Learn more about them at https://passionworks.org/ or visit the Passion Works Studio at 20 East State Street in Athens. The studio hours are Monday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
Check out some photos provided to us by Passion Works:
responsible for creating the
deer mural on Carpenter Street.
features the Passion Works Honey for the Heart parade.