Two exhibitions open simultaneously tonight at M. Chapel Projects, an alternative arts space on Princeton Street with a community and progressive focus, founded and operated by local artist Marianne Chapel. A solo show, Evolving/Revolving, will highlight the work of award-winning multi-media and interdisciplinary artist Elizabeth Sher, whose world travels serve as the basis for her continued artistic explorations. The second, a group show entitled Making Place and curated by local artist Sarah Viviana Valdez of Art Center Sarasota, unites the work of six regional artists for a meditation on art as agency, healing and safety.

Though technically based in California, where her studio lies, the entire world serves as Sher’s inspiration. An avid traveler and firm believer in the importance of the artist residency, Sher uses her frequent travels and experiences outside of the United States to fuel her art, utilizing everything from film and metalworking to classic collage, painting and drawing to reimagine and recombine the sights, sounds and smells of her adventures into the audience’s own. This latest exhibition draws primarily from the artist’s experiences in Spain, near Barcelona, and on the north island of New Zealand.

Opening alongside Evolving/Revolving, the group pop-up exhibition, Making Place, presents a similarly broad representation of media, but all thematically linked through Valdez’ curation for an inspired conversation about the power of art and the need for safe, accepting spaces. From the pointillist figures and self-portraits of Kieran Castano to the photography of Andrea Soldner and the feminist nail art from Erin Hart, founder of Nail Pop, each artist uses their medium and art to examine everything from the place of the individual to the junction of fashion and identity. Also featuring the work of Ava Zelkowitz and Jesica Glas, new music and sound art from Onirologia will permeate the space as one more uniting element.

“The reason it’s important to talk about making safe spaces for creating and exhibiting art is because of the political climate,” says Valdez. And as part of a community of artists where diversity in gender, race and thought represents the norm, concern over a national discourse that has a tendency to turn ugly or even violent when addressing issues of oppression and marginalized peoples and voices, emerged as a natural through-line for artists exploring their space in society. “It is a very vulnerable process to make art and to share it,” says Valdez. “There is something in each of the artworks that shares a personal experience about their body, their community, the past or present.”

Evolving/Revolving and Making Place open tonight at M. Chapel Projects with a reception at 6pm, free and open to the public. The shows will then be on display through the month of April, from 11am to 3pm, on each Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.