Birth and death are ancient and inevitable, but how often do we talk about, or even interpret, these things all of us face?
    “I refuse to let death hamper life,” Jean Paul Sartre said, “Death must enter life only to define it.”

That approach is part of what’s behind this month’s community effort known as “Art Heals: Birth to Death” at Columbia Center for the Arts. The collection of art exhibits, lectures, forums and workshops looks like an excellent opportunity to examine the light and shadows of our existence — including, but not restricted to, death as a part of defining life.

The centerpiece is the exhibit “Art Heals” opening March 6 (reception at 6 p.m., details in Happenings, page A5) featuring 17 local artists. Curators describe the focus as “helping us heal — our bodies, minds, souls — whatever needs healing.”

The exhibit remains in place through March 29. On March 21-22, the Center is planning a community forum that takes a closer look at healing as well as life-to-death transitions. Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital is helping sponsor the event.

Aspects of the forum range from kids discussing their art in “Youthful Art of Healing” to discussions of “Intentional Aging” and “Aging Artfully.” There will even be a drum circle — humankind’s first and best group therapy. All events are free.

Such matters are timely indeed, with the tick-tick-tick of the health care issue and its impacts on the American economy or the demographic “graying” of society and all the associated economic, social and spiritual questions.

Add to it a community forum with notables from the schools, the hospital and local government discussing education, the Gorge economy, the agriculture industry, the aging population, the Hispanic community, and more.

“Art Heals: Birth to Death” gives the community a concentrated opportunity to assess our general well-being, the art of healing, the soul, aging, and the spiritual as well as practical aspects of health, at a time when we could all use some insight to matters of life and death.