POAC presents Northern Visions exhibition of paintings by Alison Barrows-Young
January 9, 2026
By Reader Staff
The Pend Oreille Arts Council will present a new solo exhibition from Alison Barrows-Young, titled Northern Visions and opening Friday, Jan. 9 at the POAC Gallery (313 N. Second Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
On view through Jan. 31, the show kicks off with a free, public reception from 5-7 p.m., when attendees are invited to meet the artist.
Created over the course of the Barrows-Young’s 15 years living in the Sandpoint area, Northern Visions “reflects a deep and evolving relationship with the landscapes of the Inland Northwest and beyond,” the gallery stated. “Drawing inspiration from her woodland homes near Sandpoint and travels throughout Alberta, Montana, Washington and Oregon, Barrows-Young describes this period as ‘a unique and special time’ in her artistic journey.”
“Her Home” by Allison Barrows-Young
One particularly meaningful piece in the exhibition is “Her Home,” which also appears on the show’s postcard. Inspired by a house built by friends in the Selle Valley, the painting weaves together architecture and nature so that each moves in and out of focus.
Barrows-Young is especially drawn to the dramatic verticality of the region. From lowlands to towering trees to expansive skies, she often translates these features into large, vertically oriented canvases.
“The dense, tall trees standing side-by-side create visions of things within them — almost like frames in a movie,” she stated. “There is an incredible mystery in the crossing branches and shadows that evoke surreal, nearly mystical characters.”
Working primarily in oil paint, Barrows-Young hopes viewers will bring their own experiences to the work.
“My favorite thing is what viewers see reflected there for them,” she stated. “Do they recognize something they, too, have seen but perhaps lost in memory or were unable to explain?”
For more information, visit artinsandpoint.org or contact the Pend Oreille Arts Council at 208-263-6139.
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