An eye-catching art exhibit by Timothy Gorts has found a temporary home in Greenfield’s Artspace gallery.

Having a later start to art than most, Gorts proves both in his artworks and in the title of his exhibition that “It’s Never Too Late To Create.”

Walking through his gallery at Artspace, you’re greeted by 26 pieces all with their own unique style, theme and inspirations. Some are all black, while others are spiraled with endless colors. One piece in particular began with just a small red dot, and turned into an immersive journey through Gorts’ mind across an entire campus, with another piece containing over 250,000 circles.

Gorts began his artistic journey in 2017 after realizing he could create a collage to memorialize his late grandfather.

“He had a record collection that was given to me, and I carried it around over six different states for 20 years,” Gorts recalled.

Eventually, after carrying the collection through another move, he was inspired to create something new while letting something go. Gorts stayed awake for 12 hours one evening meticulously cutting up the record jackets from his inherited collection.

“That’s what started the idea of wanting to create something,” Gorts said as he reminisced on how it felt to make the first piece.

According to Gorts, all sense of time was lost, and all he felt was freedom. From then on began a timeline of creations that are viewable in chronological order throughout the gallery. Below some of his pieces, one can even glimpse photographs taken throughout the creative process to show how his art evolved from beginning to end.

While moving back to western Mass, Gorts had another inspiring experience with nothing more than a ballpoint pen.

“I was unemployed, and just bored. So, I picked up a ballpoint pen and just started doodling on a piece of paper,” he said. “That was my first abstract drawing. It literally took me about seven hours and I don’t remember the seven hours, I don’t remember the TV going off, I don’t remember how it went from light to dark, I was just engrossed in doing this doodle — and it was the beginning of something that gave me a peace and a place to go to that I’ve never had before.”

Gorts uses mixed media, including collage, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal and ink to capture his visions. His work has been shown in local businesses around western Mass, such as at Kwench Juice Cafe in Amherst, Monsoon Roastery and Espresso Bar in Springfield, and the community room at Greenfields Market in Greenfield.

Gorts currently lives in Easthampton with his wife Nikki, and is dedicated to inspiring others to create, no matter their age or previous artistic experience.

To those who have never tried creating before, Gorts said, “My biggest feeling is, just play. Just try. It’s not the creation itself, it’s the act of creating. And again, It’s never too late — so just have fun, because it’s something everyone needs to experience.”

When asked what he hopes to gain from his artistic endeavors, he said that creating art for the point of making money would sap the passion and natural joy out of the experience for him, and he’s mostly curious about how other people interpret and feel his art in their own way.

“I like the freedom of having someone feel something rather than being told,” he said. “I’m a little more free-form. I like people making their own stories for the piece.”

Encouraging interpretation, Gorts has 26 pieces displayed in his exhibit, with only three of them named. Displayed across a table near the entrance of the gallery are a collection of unfinished works that, with a $10 donation to Artspace, one can take home and finish. Gorts sees everyone who participates as a collaborator, and encourages everyone to share their work with him so that he can see how someone else decides to finish his art in their own way.

When asked about his previous experience with art, Gorts said, “I didn’t do art ever as a kid. It just wasn’t something that was in my view at all, but when I did that one piece with the record jackets, it gave me a calm in my mind that I had never really experienced before and I wanted to keep it going.”

Chloe Torri, the media and communications manager at Artspace, has been working for the past year with artists like Gorts to install their work, prepare the gallery for exhibitions, and mentor them along the way. She encourages all members of the community to engage with Artspace, whether they are an artist, volunteer, or simply a viewer.

“Artspace serves as a gathering place where individuals from different walks of life come together to engage with creative expressions, sparking discussions that transcend the art itself, and touch on important social, cultural, and personal themes,” Torri said. “This creates an environment where community members feel heard, seen, and connected, fostering a sense of belonging and shared identity.”

According to Torri, Artspace is funded through community donations, fundraising and grants. Artspace’s 2024-2025 season is partly supported by the National Endowment for the Arts through the Challenge America Grant.

“We are utilizing this grant to uplift rural and emerging artists in Greenfield and Franklin County by providing exhibition mentorship and professional gallery experiences, as well as upgrading exhibition lighting and other features in our community gallery,” Torri said.

Opportunities at Artspace for emerging artists include rolling calls for show proposals as well as open community shows, with the next one happening in January. To learn more, join their e-newsletter and follow their social media for the latest news.

Torri has worked with other community centers in the past and believes what sets the Greenfield community apart is its sense of identity and expression.

“There’s a genuine commitment to fostering community-driven projects here,” Torri said. “While other centers may focus more on regional or broader audiences, Greenfield’s approach feels more intimate and focused on building connections within the community itself. This makes working in Greenfield especially rewarding and impactful.”

Gorts’ work is on view until Oct. 11 at the Artspace Community Arts Center. The regular hours of the Artspace Community Arts Center gallery are Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Follow Gorts’ art on his Instagram page: @beanditshallbecome.