Free by Priscilla Snow Algava
(PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ) -- West Windsor Arts will host a very special art exhibition this summer celebrating the life and legacy of late Princeton artist Priscilla Snow Algava. The show, "See Beauty Everywhere: Art by Priscilla Snow Algava," will be on view at West Windsor Arts from July 15 through August 8, 2025, and will benefit the scholarship fund established in her name.
An opening reception will take place on Saturday, July 19, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. West Windsor Arts is located at 952 Alexander Road in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.
“Priscilla’s daughters, Alisa and Carin Algava, and her grandson, Drew Algava, came to us with the idea for this show, which will feature a selection of Priscilla’s artwork that together, we personally curated from her warehouse,” explains Aylin Green, Executive Director of West Windsor Arts. All proceeds from the sale of artwork from the show will go directly to the Priscilla Snow Algava Scholarship, established in 2018 to enable people of all ages who wish to pursue art classes at West Windsor Arts to do so despite any financial obstacles.
The show also celebrates what would have been Priscilla’s 85th birthday and inspired two healing art workshops that will take place at the arts center this summer. Both the show and the workshops keep Priscilla’s message of hope and love alive, and were sparked by an idea Drew Algava had when he was only 11 years old.
“After my grandmother passed away in 2019, I thought that it would be fitting to have an art show that honored her life and legacy,” says Drew Algava. A few years later, he put his dream into action and applied for and received a $3,000 Moses Brown grant to fund this special exhibition and sale.
“When Mom died, Drew made a list of things that were beautiful to him and started the ‘See Beauty Everywhere’ movement in her honor,” Carin Algava says. “He raised more than $7,500 for cancer research in her name for his Bar Mitzvah project.” This art show and sale is a continuation of that mission.
“The mission of the ‘See Beauty Everywhere’ movement is not only to share my grandmother’s message but also to get her artwork into the world,” Drew adds. “Grandma Silla made friends wherever she went and made everyone feel better just from being around her. She loved creating art. It is magical to see what she was able to do.”
The exhibition will feature a selection of Priscilla’s joyful, expressive works—art that, as her family says, continues to bring healing, light and inspiration to those who see it.
The healing power of art became especially important to Priscilla during her cancer treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She would often go into their art therapy studio and create, finding solace and strength through the hospital’s art therapy program.
“She saw that art therapy room as her support group,” adds Alisa Algava. “She felt connected to herself, the art therapist and the other participants. It was an incredibly powerful experience.”
In partnership with Debbie Rice, the same Memorial Sloan Kettering art therapist who worked with Priscilla, West Windsor Arts will host two free workshops during the exhibition for individuals impacted by cancer or chronic illness.
Guided Workshops:
Saturday, July 26, from 10:30am to 1:30pm - Beyond Words I: Pearls of Wisdom
Saturday, August 2, from 10:30am to 1:30pm - Beyond Words II: Collage Open Studio
“See Beauty Everywhere: Art by Priscilla Snow Algava” will celebrate not only the artist’s extraordinary work but also the enduring love and inspiration she left behind. Proceeds from the exhibition will benefit the Priscilla Snow Algava Scholarship Fund, helping to make art education accessible for all.
For more information about the exhibit, to register for the workshops, or to contribute to the scholarship fund, click here.
West Windsor Arts offers art and cultural events, workshops and classes for all ages and in all disciplines at its art center and in the community.
