RADFORD – “Strong,”  “takes courage,” and “best art on the mall strip in years,” are words being used to describe the “Assemblages” exhibition in Charlottesville by Radford University associate art and art education professor Richard Bay.

Displayed at Paintings and Prose – A Gallery of Possibilities in Charlottesville, the exhibition is a source of healing for wounded returning Iraq veterans and individuals dealing with the recovery and repercussions related to brain injuries. In addition to a bookstore and gallery, Paintings and Prose serves as a clubhouse and workplace for residents of Lakeview, a residential care facility for brain injury survivors.

The personal nature of Bay’s artistic expression has been a source of comfort for people dealing with health issues of every kind. Being a brain injury survivor himself, Bay’s work brings a much-needed level of understanding and connection to his audiences.

(IN THE PHOTO: Richard Bay greets a veteran at the “Assemblages” exhibition on display at Charlottesville’s Paintings and Prose.)

One of the works receiving a great deal of attention depicts the story of a stroke that Bay had more than a year ago. Doctors thought he had a heart attack but blood tests revealed it was a small stroke. “The piece keeps saying ‘Learn to say NO, learn to say no,’ with a narrative between.” Bay says. “The final sentence says, ‘Learn to say NO and mean it. LIFE HANGS in the BALANCE!’ This resonated with many folks who understood it from the aspect of pressure and It allows others to focus and evaluate themselves through my experiences and shows them a means to avoid some of the consequences I have had.”

Lakeview vocational specialist Lindsay Leake says Bay’s work is encouraging to those who deal with similar health issues. Leake said, “Richard’s work has a universal theme. People who look at his work may think of other ways they can express their thoughts.” A comment book is placed near the exhibition, giving visitors the opportunity to write their thoughts and opinions on the pieces. Leake said the bookstore and gallery’s name reflects part of its mission – to help survivors realize their possibilities.

Bay says, “After the opening, when I talked to veterans of the Iraq war and individuals who are challenged that came to see my work and they said it gave them hope, that was more of a validation of what I create than any award I have won or review I have received. Being with those people and the others who attended gives me courage to keep making my 'stuff' and more importantly tell the stories life gives us.”

Bay considers himself a “health mirror that others can look into and maybe find strength to know all things can be overcome.” With all the surgeries and health issues he’s faced, Bay says, “I could have easily become the picture and a brief bio in that section of the paper. I feel like there must be a reason I am still here – teaching, talking, creating, making those memories and events tangible for others to understand. Having faith has little to do with survival, having the will to not give up is paramount.”

The show features 27 pieces by Bay and works by two other artists. Bay will return to the gallery on September 4 for a closing event. To learn more, e-mail Bay at rjbay@radford.edu or Leake at lleake@lakeview.ws.