Walla Walla Community College student art exhibit open through June 5

An art exhibit featuring the work of Walla Walla Community College student Jon Saunders, "Lost & Found: Emerging from the Ink," is now open for viewing.

The exhibit, which opened at the beginning of May, explores Saunders' experience with gang-related tattoo removal and his journey from incarceration to higher education.

Saunders was born in Houston and moved to Washington in 2008. He is currently pursuing a degree in human services at WWCC, according to a news release from the college.

"When I first arrived at Walla Walla Community College, I had a limited sense of what I was capable of," Saunders said. "What I found instead was a community that was deeply invested in student growth. That environment helped me begin to see my full potential."

His exhibit also highlights Walla Walla's INK OUT program, which offers tattoo removal for anyone, but is mostly targeted toward former gang members who want to get rid of gang-related markings.

With the encouragement of his art professor Daniel Forbes, Saunders started documenting his tattoo removal process as a form of artistic expression.

"Through that work, he discovered a broader vision for his future - one that may include pursuing a dual master's degree and eventually launching a nonprofit organization to support at-risk youth," the news release said.

After graduation, Saunders plans to attend the University of Nevada to earn a Bachelor of Social Work and eventually earn a master's degree and become a licensed counselor.

Saunders' exhibit is open through Friday, June 5. It is available for anyone to view from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, on the west side of the first floor of Building D, 500 Tausick Way.

"My art exhibit exists because of collective support," Saunders said. "'Lost and Found' is not just about what has been removed, but about what is being rebuilt."

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