Believe ;)A Father & Child Collaboration for “Unmasking Stigma”This year, I was invited to participate in Unmasking Stigma: A Hope and Healing Benefit, supporting the Valeo Foundation and their work in mental-health awareness. I decided to include my oldest, Miles, in the making of our mask. Our mask — Believe ;) — is a true collaboration. Miles created the tiger design on the front: bold, intuitive, grounded. Inside, I painted a house silhouette reaching into the night sky beneath the moonlight — centered around one simple word: “Believe ;)”. Inviting Miles to join me wasn’t just part of the project — it was the first step in the healing process. Because the hardest step toward wellness is often the simple act of asking for help. Together we built something that lives between strength and vulnerability, darkness and light, home and horizon. It’s a reminder that belief can begin in our relationships, in shared moments, and in the quiet invitation to hope. Artist BiosJoey Embers Miles Embers About the EventUnmasking Stigma: A Hope and Healing Benefit Tickets & more information: givebutter.com/unmaskingstigma
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 #GivingBack – August "Time to Grow" Oil on pine | Roaming House series Some things bloom slowly. Not with noise or urgency, but with quiet conviction -- a stretch, a reach, a knowing. At the center of this painting is a form I’ve returned to before -- a circle that is both sun and flower, radiant and rooted, a bloom of light held together by time. Opposite it, a tide of blue, a rising current that could be wave or shadow, question or invitation. Time to Grow is about that pause -- the moment just before you rise, the knowing that something inside you is ready even if nothing outside you says it’s time. My twins chose this painting. Like every piece in this series, it will be left behind -- no price, no plaque. Just a gift, waiting to be found by someone who’s been growing in silence. Maybe that someone is you.  #GivingBack July
“Standing in Your Shadow” Oil on pine | Roaming House series There are moments when we mistake the shadows for what holds us back —but what if they’re where we find our shape? This painting was born from that edge, the place where the past eclipses the moonlight and the sea of self begins to churn. At the center stands the red house — my signature form — caught in motion, leaning toward a towering wall of memory and meaning. It’s not just a house. It’s a self. A self choosing to stand still. To acknowledge the silhouette cast behind it. I made this in reflection of all the times we run from what shaped us. But maybe the bravest thing is to stop. To stand in our own shadow. To say: “This is where I’ve been. This is who I am.” This one’s for anyone learning to face their reflection in the dark.  Each month, I sit down with my youngest two — twins with wild hearts and honest eyes — and we choose one painting to give away. Not to a person, but to the world.
For June, they picked “Follow the Sun.” It’s a piece about movement and light, about listening to that quiet pull inside you that says keep going. Maybe that’s what they saw — a way forward, a reason to hope. Later this month, I’ll place this painting in a public space — maybe along a walking trail, maybe beneath a tree in the park — where a stranger might stumble upon it. No plaque, no price tag. Just art, waiting for someone who needs it. This is how I teach my kids that beauty should be shared. That sometimes the best gifts are the ones we let go of completely. If you find it, it’s yours. If it finds you, may it bring light. We’re visiting my mom today in McPherson, and I’m leaving this month’s art drop at Swan Court in Lakeside Park—a place layered with memory. It’s where I was married, where my sister was married, and where so many others in our community have begun their journeys together. A place shaped by love, held by time. The piece I’m leaving behind is called Together We Grow, and here’s what it carries:   Together We Grow
A horizon bends—not broken, but bowed—as if shaped by time, by weather, by love. At its curve, a bright sphere hovers, not quite a sun, not quite a moon—only presence. Something steady. Something becoming. Together We Grow is a portrait of relationship as landscape—how connection reshapes the line between self and other. The edge between yellow warmth and shadowed blue is not a boundary but a joining. Not opposition, but coexistence. In this bending, in this meeting of colors and shapes, there’s a quiet resilience. We grow not in symmetry, but in response—in trust, in tension, in the shared willingness to remain. This is what it means to grow together: to tilt, to adjust, to stay. A Gift to the Wanderers, the Curious, and the Seekers
Today, my twins and I took Rise and Shine on a journey—a spontaneous offering to the world, left for someone unexpected to find. This painting, like the act of leaving it behind, is about movement, transition, and the unknown paths we take. In Rise and Shine, a small house leans forward, caught between the solid ground and the pull of the waves, as the sun looms overhead. The house could be standing its ground or surrendering to the flow—its fate left open to interpretation. The textures, the angles, the tension between stillness and motion—these elements reflect the way life shifts beneath us, sometimes gently, sometimes with force. Leaving this piece at Prairie Park Nature Center in Lawrence, KS, feels right. A place where the natural world reminds us of the cycles we move through—growth, change, and renewal. Whoever finds Rise and Shine, I hope it speaks to you. Maybe it reminds you to embrace the uncertainty, to lean into the sun, to rise and shine in your own way. If you come across it, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Art should be experienced, shared, and lived with. #ArtDrop #RiseAndShine #PrairieParkNatureCenter #JoeyEmbers The intersection of art and sustainability is a space where creativity thrives, and this month, I had the opportunity to contribute to this vision through my second art drop for our workplace’s Sustainability Committee.
Titled Time to Grow, this piece found a home within the Recycling/Reuse initiative, sitting amongst an eclectic collection of repurposed items that tell their own quiet stories of reuse and renewal. Art, much like sustainability, is about transformation—finding new meaning in what already exists and allowing it to speak to a new audience in unexpected ways. This initiative embodies the spirit of conscious creativity. In January alone, our collective effort redirected 62.5 pounds of glass and aluminum from the landfill through recycling. But sustainability is not just about recycling; it's about reimagining, reusing, and giving new life to what might otherwise be discarded. The free/reuse section in the break room has become a small yet meaningful way to participate in this cycle. Through this art drop, I hope to inspire conversations about the beauty in sustainability—the idea that every item, whether a forgotten painting, a well-worn book, or a small trinket, has the potential for a second life. #TimeToGrow #ArtForSustainability #CreativeReuse #RecyclingArt #SustainableLiving #EcoArt #JoeyEmbers #PathwaysToTheUnseen  This place has always been a source of inspiration—where my kids and I would come to explore, learn, and let our imaginations roam free. The Kansas Museum of History, part of the Kansas Historical Society, is truly a Topeka treasure, preserving the stories and heritage that connect us to our past and shape our future. Placing my art here feels like a reflection of those cherished memories, a tribute to the countless adventures we've had within these walls. If you haven’t visited, I encourage you to take a trip and experience the history and wonder for yourself. 📍 Kansas Museum of History 🔗 kshs.org #JoeyEmbersGivingBack #GivingBack #TopekaTreasure #ArtAndMemories #KansasHistory  Art has the power to inspire, heal, and connect us. To make art more accessible and intertwine it with the beauty of nature, I'm launching the "Giving Back" project—a monthly initiative designed to spark exploration, reflection, and creativity.
✨ Discover Art in the Wild Each month, I'll place an original painting in a natural setting—be it along a trail, within a park, or nestled in a serene corner—waiting to be found. These artworks are gifts to their discoverers, encouraging everyone to pause, observe, and engage deeply with their surroundings. 🌎 The Inspiration Behind the Initiative Art is a universal language that tells stories and ignites curiosity. By integrating art into everyday environments, I aim to give back to the community, promote outdoor adventures, and make artistic experiences a part of daily life. 🌟 Honoring Birger Sandzén My journey in art was profoundly influenced by my time in McPherson County and at Bethany College, where I was surrounded by Birger Sandzén's masterpieces. His approach made art feel vibrant and accessible, a legacy I aspire to continue through this project. 💡 Found a Painting? Share Your Experience! If you come across one of these hidden artworks, I'd love to hear your story. Capture a photo and share it on social media with the hashtag #JoeyEmbersGivingBack, or visit joeyembers.org to connect. Your experiences enrich this journey and inspire others. 🌱 Join the Movement Stay updated on the latest art placements and share your own stories or creations inspired by this endeavor. Together, we can cultivate a community rooted in art, exploration, and generosity—one painting at a time. Follow the Path. Find the Art. Share the Story. |