Good Grief: An Art Exhibition Exploring of the Five Stages of Grief

Jurors: Jayme Fahrer and Charli Decker‍

Jayme Fahrer -

Jayme brings a profound understanding of grief and resilience to her art. Her journey through grief began young, shaped by the loss of her grandparents and witnessing the impact of illness in her family. These early experiences were only the start, as life continued to introduce her to new layers of grief. When her father passed away, Jayme faced a transformative sorrow, but nothing prepared her for the grief she would come to feel for herself.

Surviving bacterial meningitis forced her through every stage of grief, as she wrestled with the loss of the person she once was. Learning to live beyond her illness and its lasting impacts became an emotional, raw journey that brought her, ultimately, to a place of acceptance. Today, Jayme uses art as both a reflection of this journey and a way to process emotions that go beyond words.

As a juror for the “Good Grief” exhibition, Jayme draws from her personal experience with the complex emotions of loss and healing. Her artwork, particularly her abstract approach, embodies her belief that grief, in all its forms, has meaning and can be expressed in profound ways.
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Charli Decker -

Charli Decker is an artist whose life and work are deeply intertwined with themes of loss, resilience, and transformation. An artist for as long as she can remember, Charli took a break from her creative practice for several years, only to recently experience a renewed burst of artistic energy that demanded expression. She poured this energy into a deeply personal body of work, exploring the theme of grief and healing.

The thread of grief has woven through Charli's life in many forms. From enduring a physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive first marriage at a young age, through the challenges of single motherhood, through love and loss and family trials, and through the ongoing navigation of her oldest son's struggle with bipolar disorder and suicide ideation, grief has been a familiar companion.

In her current series, Charli explores the five stages of grief- denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The mediums used, charcoal and watercolor, were chosen for their rawness and fluidity, mirroring the emotional intensity of grief. The bold, expressive strokes of charcoal harness the harshness of grief and the strength it demands, while the washes of watercolor embody the fragility and ever-shifting nature of grief.

Through this resurgence of creative energy, Charli reconnected with her artistic roots and rediscovered the healing power of expression. Her art reminds us that grief is a universal experience, but it is also deeply personal. Each piece invites viewers to connect with their own experiences of grief, offering a space of reflection, recognition, and a release.

Eligibility: 

• Open to artists over 18 years of age. 
• Art must be in original form for the medium being submitted. Giclée or other reproductions of original work will not be accepted, unless the original is a photograph/print. Example: giclée of watercolor will not be accepted.
• Art to be considered include paintings, drawings, sculpture, digital media, mixed media, photography or print making. West Windsor Arts will work with the accepted artists to accommodate the mediums submitted.  
• Art must be new to WWA and not have been displayed in previous shows.

Details and Art Specifications 

• Submission Fees: $20 for WWA members, $25 for all other
• A maximum of 3 works may be submitted for consideration.
• This is a blind jury process. All identifying information will be removed for jurors’ review.
• Art will be displayed at West Windsor Arts in the gallery, foyer, and online. 
• There is no size limitation for art, however, size will be taken into consideration by the jurors.
• All artworks entered MUST include finished edges or be framed. Alternative presentations that are part of the artwork will be accepted however we must be able to hang or display the art. Typically all work must be wired across the back with picture hanging wire. Wire must be approximately 1/3 from top of frame. No saw-tooth hooks, ribbon, or tabletop picture frames with attached easel. Artwork must be labeled on the back with the artist's name and title of the work. 
• For videos and other digital media, we will need a version that can be downloaded.

Accepted Art

Entry of artwork and application for jury review constitutes an agreement between the artist and West Windsor Arts to the conditions set forth:

1. Insurance coverage for accepted artwork begins upon completion of drop-off procedure on the designated date and time at West Windsor Arts and for the duration of the show.
2. The jurors and West Windsor Arts reserves the right to reject any work submitted at their discretion. The exhibit will be hung in the gallery and foyer at West Windsor Arts in a way that best showcases all the artists and art to be exhibited. Note: depending on size and space restrictions, not all work selected may be hung. Artists will be notified immediately following final installation of the exhibit if a selected work is not included or if any work submitted is not properly framed for hanging.
3. Work not matching the digital images submitted will not be accepted.
4. All artwork must remain in the show for the duration of the show.
5. There will be set dates and times for drop off and pick up of accepted artwork. If you are shipping your art, prior arrangements must be made. Artwork must be sent with prepaid return postage and insurance coverage.

Sale of Art

• West Windsor Arts will be responsible for processing and collecting the sale proceeds of art.
• West Windsor Arts will retain 30% of the retail price as commission and pay the balance of 70% of sale. Artist Level Members receive a preferred split on gallery sales (75/25).
• Payment for sold work will be made by check within 21 business days of close of the exhibit.

Note: West Windsor Arts retains the right to use the artist’s name and digital images of accepted artwork.

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To enter your art:

1) Entry from will be available soon. Please check back.

2) Pay the registration fee here: Entry fee for Good Grief

*It may be helpful to have the following information ready before you begin the form:
--- Artist info: name as it will appear on wall labels, contact information, website (if applicable),
--- Bio (for audience review)a

For each artwork:
---Title, medium, dimensions, sale price or not for sale, insurance value (usually the same as the sale price)
---Artist statement about each artwork. (This might include why you created this piece of art, how it relates to the theme, your inspiration, materials used and/or your process.)

---Upload image (An image of each piece of artwork will need to be uploaded.  Make sure it is in focus and square to the frame.  Please rename the image file you are uploading to the following format: title of art.jpg.  Do not send us an image file name that is just a string of numbers.  If you need help to rename your image files, please call us.)
---WWA will work with the accepted artists to accommodate the mediums submitted. Artwork must be in its original form for the medium being submitted.

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Featured art: Good Grief by Jayme Fahrer, Depression by Charli Decker, Beautifully Broken by Jayme Fahrer.