OPINION: Passion Works Studio, forever in bloom

Photo via Ava Jelepis/The New Political

For over 26 years, Passion Works Studio has been working to create inclusive communities and inspire through the power of art. Much like their signature Passion Flower, the studio has blossomed over the years into a beloved and integral part of the Athens community and beyond. Passion Works has provided those of all abilities with space to thrive and develop their individual talents, while also fostering community. Along with its powerful message, Passion Works Studio also has an inspiring history.

Founder of Passion Works Studio, Patty Mitchell, knew from a young age that she wanted to create a space of support and acceptance for all. She had an older brother who was institutionalized, as he had a severe developmental delay as well as physical challenges. “I grew up knowing that I had a sibling who was away, and that was just a complete mystery to me,” Mitchell recounted.

At the time, she was too young to know what an institution was. Her brother passed away at the age of 12 when Mitchell was 10 years old. As she grew older, she continued to research institutionalized environments.

Mitchell learned more about the types of environments her brother spent years in.

“In a lot of places, it was very dank, and there wasn’t a lot of positive stimulation, and I questioned why it had to be like that,” Mitchell said.  “As I grew, I promised to live for the both of us.” 

From that point forward, Mitchell knew she wanted to create a place like Passion Works Studio. When it came time for Mitchell to go to college, she didn’t think it was for her, as she had trouble with academics. Her parents lived in Athens, and when she first visited, she knew it was the place for her.  “I just felt like I was gonna live here the rest of my life…there’s some kind of magic here,” she said.  She enrolled in Ohio University and started to pursue Visual Communications and Journalism, before switching her major to Fine Art Photography.

During her time as an undergraduate student, Mitchell volunteered at The Ridges, formally known as the Athens Mental Health Center. Mitchell lived on-site during her sophomore year, which provided her with free housing and food. “I didn’t have any training; I was taking art classes.” The more time Mitchell spent with the clients, the more she learned how to connect with people from drawing. Mitchell said, “In those moments, I said, ‘OK, this is what I want to do with the rest of my life. I want to create art to reach and connect with people who are on the fringes of our community.”

What Mitchell learned at The Ridges, she took with her when creating Passion Works Studio. 

After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she moved around before coming back to Athens for grad school to receive a Master of Fine Arts in photography. She also taught at Ohio U for three years as an adjunct professor.

Mitchell became an artist in residence at the Ohio Arts Council, where she spent ten years. “It was an incredible learning experience.” 

In 1998, Passion Works Studio was founded with a grant from the Ohio Arts Council when Mitchell was an artist-in-residence. They had a three-week residency at a sheltered workshop on Stimson Avenue to see if people would like the idea. Their first project was called “Birds of Paradise” where they made 100 papier-mâché birds. The next year, they had a ten-week residency with a project called “A Story of Flying.” Both “Birds of Paradise” and “A Story of Flying” were shown at the Kennedy Museum. After ten years, Passion Works moved to its current location, which used to be a Greyhound bus station. 

The idea was to create a space where anyone could come in and talk to each other, a space filled with positivity. “It’s very, very unusual when the majority of the workers at a studio are people with developmental differences. So, in building this space, we are outside of the norm.” The products at Passion Works are designed around the worker, and while people find their own individual gifts, everything at Passion Works is collaborative.

The first product the studio came up with was the Passion Flower, made of upcycled printing plates from the Athens Messenger. Using upcycled material is an important part of Passion Works. Being able to turn old materials into something beautiful is a testament to the creativity that the artists at Passion Works present. The Passion Flower is the signature product of the studio and each flower is unique to the artist. Over 38,000 of them have been sold and they alone have generated over $3 million in sales. The Passion Flower has since become the official flower of Athens, Ohio, and can be spotted throughout the community. 

You can find pieces of Passion Works almost everywhere you look within the community. During events such as the Ohio Pawpaw Festival, Homecoming and Nelsonville Music Festival, Passion Works collaborates to help “elevate” the event. Rather than being invited into the community, Passion Works chooses to invite the community in. “We love the work we are doing, so if we are gonna throw a party, we are gonna throw a party big,” Mitchell adds. 

Outside of events and festivals, Passion Works also collaborates with Ohio U. For example, they provide medical students with the opportunity to talk with people with developmental differences. “It’s a fact that people with disabilities are underserved in the medical world because they are really misunderstood.” 

Beyond the Athens community, Passion Works has been recognized on a national level and has collaborated with organizations based elsewhere. One of their collaborations is with Turn It Gold, a nonprofit organization that helps fund childhood cancer research. 20% of sales on Passion Works Turn it Gold Products helps fund that research. “Another connection is, kids with Down Syndrome have a 20 times more likelihood of experiencing cancer…so we wanted to tie that in for awareness, especially for our people.” 

At Passion Works, the artists are just as, if not even more, positive and vibrant as the art itself.

“My favorite part would be getting to meet new people because I have a lot of social anxiety, and it helps a lot with that,” says a Passion Works Artist, who goes by Sam Sheets. “I was bullied a lot in school, so it’s an outlet to help with anxiety and social anxiety and just help deal with my mental health problems.”

“I think that Passion Works is important to the community because it creates this radically inclusive space that really celebrates all of the kind of unique and creative contributions that people have to bring to the table,” adds Tanner Ingle, another Passion Works Artist. 

Passion Works has truly blossomed and grown throughout the years and is even currently in the process of buying a new building, Ambassador Laundries on Stimson Avenue. The larger space will allow more people to come in, which has always been Passion Works’ mission: inviting people in. 

“We have taken this model and worked in extended care facilities like retirement homes, domestic violence shelters, orphanages, schools… It feels like we’re at a tipping point right now with our campaign and finding this new space and working through love and collaboration. It’s incredibly powerful,” says Mitchell.

The work that Mitchell, the artists and every single collaborator of Passion Works Studio have done has helped this organization grow and succeed. They have raised awareness and helped to spread positive messages throughout the community and beyond. The place Mitchell imagined as a child is now alive and is sure to change lives for years to come.

This article was published in TNP’s Spring 2025 Print edition.