Oregon-based artists Agnes Field, Arielle Brackett, and Kate Speranza have come together to share their artwork in an exhibition, Sointula: A Place of Harmony, inspired by their individual artist residencies at Arteles Creative Center in rural Finland. The show, opening June 14 and running through July 6, features a variety of sculptural and two-dimensional mixed-media works that explore themes of sauna culture, meditation, and water.

Established in 2010, Arteles Creative Center is a multidisciplinary artist residency set in the tranquil countryside of Hämeenkyrö, Finland. Each year, it hosts over 120 international artists, writers, and creative professionals for one-month residencies that emphasize mindfulness, introspection, and deep connection with nature. Surrounded by forests and lakes, the center invites residents to engage with the landscape as both a source of inspiration and a springboard for deep introspective work.

Astoria artist Agnes Field conceived the show based on her residency at Arteles in 2013. Being of Finnish and Native American heritage, Field draws a connection between the sauna ritual of Finland and the Native sweat lodge experience, both of which are of great importance within these cultures. Field summarizes the nature of the ritual, “Without clothes we begin from zero—no pretense; nothing hidden and we become clean both physically and mentally—respectfully together. Cleansing with steam, heat, and cold water.”

Field invited Astoria artist Kate Speranza, who attended two winter residencies at Arteles Creative Center in 2020 and 2024. The quietude of winter provided space for Speranza to explore meditation in the daily group sessions offered by the residency program. It was there that she developed a meditation and mindfulness practice and further deepened it during her second residency. Since returning from Finland last year, Speranza has incorporated meditative actions into her art practice. She starts each studio session with a simple repetitive process for a silent duration of 20 minutes. From these actions she builds her work upon each process—allowing the work to unfold organically, rather than planning ahead.

Additionally, Portland metalsmith and mixed-media artist, Arielle Brackett, will show work from an on-going series—which she began during her time in Finland—of sculptural jewelry and objects based on observing the constant flux of water patterns which became a daily mindfulness practice. Brackett describes her process, “I primarily work with hand-dyed indigo fabrics, gel medium, thread, steel wire, paper, ceramics, sterling silver, wood, and found objects to create line, texture, and volumetric forms. The water series has become the center of my art practice and embodies a variety of interpretations of place through the context of water.”

The exhibition runs June 14 through July 6 at Astoria Visual Arts in downtown Astoria, 1000 Duane Street. The gallery is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11-3pm. There will be an opening reception on June 14 from 5-8pm and a closing reception on July 5 with artist talks beginning at 1pm. Founded in 1989, Astoria Visual Arts is a cornerstone of creative expression and community connection providing dynamic exhibitions, youth-focused initiatives, and support for artists at every stage of their careers.