From the foreword to the catalog, The Souls, Volume 3, by Laura Madeleine, Director: This catalog chronicles the Third Annual Souls Shot: Portraits of Victims of Gun Violence. Sadly, the exhibition represents only a small fraction of those affected by the epidemic of gun violence. 

The artists participating in this project were randomly paired with the families and friends of victims, or, in some cases, artists already had personal connections with victims. The artists set out to illuminate the lives of these victims. The varied approaches and mediums used by the artists is a fitting testament to the unique qualities of each of the souls portrayed.

Families of the victims constantly face questions and comments about their loved ones, mostly about the circumstances of the gun violence. We seek to focus on the lives that were lived before that split second, unacceptable, bad decision was made by the shooter. These people did not deserve the consequences of that devastating choice. These people were - and are - more than numbers and statistics.

This catalog represents the commitment of all involved in the Souls Shot portrait project. We will continue to bring to the public intimate glimpses into the lives cut short by gun violence; to raise awareness of the terrible cost to our communities; to touch hearts and minds; to call to action.

On behalf of all those who participated in creating this exhibition, we hope you will be moved by the images and that you will get to know the depth of these unique human beings; our fellow souls.          

FOR THE FULL COMMENTARIES FROM THE ARTISTS, FAMILES & FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ON ALL THE ARTWORKS, PLEASE VIEW OUR VIRTUAL EXHIBITION ON THIS PAGE.

2019-2020 souls shot portrait virtual exhibition

the portraits

For the full commentaries from the artists, familes & friends of the victims of gun violence on all the artworks, please view our virtual exhibition located on this page.

The Artists

Elisa Abeloff

Elisa Abeloff earned a Bachelor's Degree of Fine Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1991 with a major in Printmaking and minor in Art History. During that time, she studied at the Santa Reparata Printmaking studio in Florence, Italy, and later at the Vermont Studio Center. 

Elisa has taught Painting and Drawing as an Adjunct Professor at Webster University in St. Louis, had solo shows in Chicago and St. Louis, and has been included in multiple group shows and collections. 

Elisa now works in her studio in Narberth, PA. She has felt honored to participate in this project and to get to know Lisa Harmon and her family.

Nancy Mulloy Bonn

A portraitist, I interrupted my life as an artist with a 40-year career as a lawyer and business executive.  I am now a Core Studies certificate candidate at The Pa. Academy of the Fine Arts.  As a child and young adult, I was taught by portraitist Jack Whelan and later by James K.Y. Kuo, and studied art history and drawing at the Albright Knox Art Gallery and the State University of New York in Buffalo, New York.  In college in Syracuse, I studied printmaking with Charles Wollowitz and sculpture with Jacqueline Ziegler. While working in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I was a member of the Art Association of Harrisburg and studied with Leo Gilroy and other local artists.

Jennifer Coburn

Jennifer Coburn studied painting at Cornell University and the University of Texas-San Antonio, as well as having studied Asian art and culture at Cornell and in Japan. Her work has been shown in exhibits in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Wilmington, DE; Knoxville, TN; and San Antonio, TX and is in private collections in California, Oregon, New York, and Pennsylvania. She is humbled by the experience of painting a portrait in 2018 and again in 2019 for the Souls Shot project. Coburn finds that expressing her portrait subjects’ inner light through paint aligns with her body of non-figurative paintings which are inspired by themes of connection through color, movement, and light. In both types of art, she is interested in capturing a moment of inner truth, connection between heaven and earth, and wholeness.

Rusty Eveland

Rusty Eveland is an animator and artist working out of South Philadelphia. His animated shorts have been screened and well-received around the region, and his artwork has been exhibited and shown nationwide. He has a BFA in Animation from The University Of The Arts and is currently working on his next short. You can follow Rusty on Instagram @rustyeveland. 

Linnie Kerrigan Greenberg

Linnie stumbled upon mixed media collage late in Linnie stumbled upon mixed media collage late in life. Mainly self-taught, she considers herself a “naïve” or “outsider” artist.  

She gets inspiration and idea sparks everywhere: 

A baby’s perfectly round, perfectly soft, perfectly pink cheeks. The incredible architecture of a 7-inch, high-heel shoe. Patterns the sun makes on everything it kisses

Linnie holds Signature Member status at the Philadelphia Watercolor Society, served as board member of the Delaware Valley Art League and is currently on the board of Tri-State Artists Equity.  

She’s been giving free mixed media collage workshops for over seven years to adults, children, seniors, those with dementia, those with PTSD and recovering addicts.

Ann Price Hartzell

aphdesigns@gmail.com, Philadelphia, 19118

My earliest memories are of my grandmother’s studio, in the cupola of an old home on Gowan Avenue. She was an illustrator of children’s books in the early 1900’s. Her artistic vision has been with me, as long as I can remember. I have dabbled in art all my life. I have always loved anything creative. Starting with a degree in Fine and Applied Arts that focused on vocal music, I later returned to school for a degree in Fashion Design. My designs won many awards including the experience of showing my Collection at the “7th on Sixth” New York Fashion Week Runway Shows. Operating my own apparel business and creating Art To Wear, one-of-a-kind women’s accessories and wraps, has been my passion for many years. As a freelancer, I designed women’s shoes, Christmas and holiday décor, custom wedding gowns and outerwear. I began creating parasols after spending time rebuilding in St. Bernard Parrish, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Now, I design unique hand sewn and painted parasols. In 2017, I became involved with Souls Shot: Portraits of Victims of Gun Violence. I had never done a portrait before – outside of art school. The experience of working with and getting to know these families has changed my life and my perspective.

designAnn www.designAnn.etsy.com Sole proprietor/designer 

● Designer Jack Sprat Shoes 

● Designer Starry Night Collection by Cassiday Collections NYC 

● Featured artist/working member The Gallery at Cedar Hollow 

● Artist and coordinator Old Forge Crossing Crafts at the Clubhouse 

● Craft Show Circuit Artrider, Sugarloaf and Pa Guild of Craftsmen 

● Artist and coordinator Salem County NJ Studio Tour Arts in Bloom 

● Artist Scarecrow Walk and Insider Art Show Morris Arboretum 

Education and community; Fashion Design Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science Small Business Program Women’s Opportunity Resource Center Display and Marketing WXPN’s Public Radio Annual Charity Auction Philadelphia Beacon - Rebuilding New Orleans St Bernard Project Chalmette, La Volunteer University of Pennsylvania Morris Arboretum

Garth Herrick

Born 1958, Garth Herrick has painted a number of notable portraits, including Mayor Edward G. Rendell and Mayor John F. Street, for City Hall, Fifteen federal judges from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, including the late Honorable A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.,  five club presidents of the Union League of Philadelphia, and Lieutenant Governor Mark S. Singel for the Pennsylvania State Capitol, in Harrisburg. In 1985, he graduated from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, with honors.  From 1988 to 1991 he was the chief sculptor at Leonardo da Vinci’s Horse, Inc., where he reconstructed a life-size equestrian sculpture after the designs and plans of Leonardo da Vinci. Living and working in historic Germantown, Philadelphia, he paints and sculpts many privately commissioned portraits of families and individuals.

Rebecca Hoenig

I was born in Newark, New Jersey and spent the first few years of my life in Illinois before moving to Philadelphia. I have been both an artist and teacher for most of my life. The past two decades I have worked as a Museum Educator at the Philadelphia Museum of Art where I had the honor of teaching hundreds of school children.

I have two websites for my work: www.rebeccahoenig.com - painting, sculpture, prints, murals, etc. and www.rebeccajanehoenig.com -  illustration

Melissa L. Joseph

Melissa Joseph is an multi-media artist.  She is interested in connecting people through shared memories and experiences. Her work addresses themes of family, history, and the politics of space. Her work has been shown at the Woodmere Art Museum, the PAFA Museum, The Delaware Contemporary, Rider University and was featured in Friend of the Artist, and New American Paintings.

Hilda Kaufman 

I studied anatomy and sculpture at the Art Students League in New York City. My career was as a graphic designer, working in design, illustration and art direction for advertising, publishing and a non-profit, Save the Children. Currently I am retired and spend my time drawing portraits with an online community called “Sktchy." People’s expressions are so varied, so revealing and often very moving.

Warren Keyser

Warren Keyser studied with Joseph Pavone at Radcliffe Art Gallery in Bristol, Pennsylvania and Bucks County Community College.  He is a 1992 graduate of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and 1995 BFA graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.  In 2014, he started a small business, WK Fine Arts, which specialized in portrait painting and private drawing and painting lessons in Bucks County and Lambertville, New Jersey.  Warren has exhibited his work consistently for over 10 years at Sidetracks Gallery, Wayne Art Center, PAFA FAME Gallery, and the Burrison Gallery at the University of Pennsylvania  His work can be found in private collections on the East Coast. Warren has volunteered his time and art to support the Souls Shot Project in Philadelphia since 2018.

Anna Kocher

Anna Kocher is a painter who, after time spent studying in Italy and at Temple, has been living and working in the area for over 15 years. Her work, in both watercolor and oil, is primarily focused on memory and longing. Anna also creates paintings for commission, including recent mural art projects. She teaches art to high school students and adults, and serves on various local committees and boards in support of arts organizations. Anna lives with her husband and three children in the greater Philadelphia area.

Janine Lieberman

For some artists, drawing is simply a way of life. Janine has been drawing since she was a child, primarily self-taught. She feels it expresses her main intention as a participant-observer: care, attention to process and hard work. 

Raised in northern California she retired to Philadelphia a dozen years ago where she has ancestral roots. Here she spends her time working in community theaters in East Falls and Chestnut Hill; drawing the objects of our material culture and clay sculpture of the figure. At home she cares for a small community of canines.

Chenoa McDonald

Chenoa is a natural born artist.  Her works are as unique as she is. She was in her early 30s when she decided to go to Community College of Pennsylvania for Art and Design. While there she held a 3.9 GPA.  She excelled in all of her courses but especially  in 3D design where semester after semester her art was chosen by her professors to be professionally photographed for the purpose of educating future art students. She likes to call herself an adaptive artist, one who can do it all. Although particularly fond of realism she also likes to create things outside the box.

Laura Madeleine

Laura’s main focus has become the Souls Shot portrait project. She serves as director and curator. It is a full time effort and the hope is, aside from the hope it will no longer be needed, is that it will spread to other cities and communities.  Laura remains, also, a fine artist working in painted batik technique on silk. She was represented by the venerable Rosenfeld Gallery and now shows in various venues in Philadelphia and elsewhere. She has received many awards for her work over the years from Woodmere Art Museum, and many more institutions. Her series of batik paintings paired with ekphrastic poems called Waxing Poetic inspired the original song cycle In This Blue Room composed by Kile Smith and performed by Lyric Fest. She is a former designer and art director, receiving awards from Print , AIGA, and the Art Directors’ Club. She worked for several years as an illustrated map designer for the National Geographic Society. She teaches children and adults, when asked, and participates in outreach programs. Her finest creations are Claire, Charles, and Cole Pritchard. To view more of her work, go to laurabatik.com.

Helen Mangelsdorf

Helen Mangelsdorf trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Shortly after completing her studies there she completed a work entitled ‘Rape Piece’ which contained the portraits of all the members of her Rape Victims support group with shadow boxes referring to each woman’s rape experience. The work was included in an exhibit called, ‘Rape’, which originated at Ohio State University and was shown throughout the US. This portrait is her second contribution to the Souls Shot project, which marks a return to that work which confronted viewers with real people and real stories of those who have experienced violence in their lives. 

Elisa Markoff

Elisa Markhoff is an award winning artist who specializes in Fraktur and medieval Illuminations. She lives in Bucks County PA.

Nancy Bea Miller

Philadelphia-based artist Nancy Bea Miller exhibits her oil paintings at Artists’ House Gallery in Philadelphia PA, Watson Gallery in Stonington ME, and Newman Saunders Galleries in Wayne PA.

Nancy is a freelance writer and writes for numerous magazines and publications. She has written book reviews, writer interviews, artist interviews, exhibition reviews and other pieces relating to art, as well as various pieces pertaining to special needs.

Jeannie Moberly

http://moberly.cjfearnley.com/ 

Lincoln High School Philadelphia Fleisher student in sculpture BA Barnard College NYC Program in the Arts Cum Laude Plastic Club Member Philadelphia 

Solo and group shows throughout my life participating as volunteer artist for events and public plein aire seamstress for clothing designers, costumes, sails handsewing Baroque reproduction curtains for the NY Met and embroidery Art in Public places mural for the City of Davis building models and furniture, drafting for water systems working with children as teacher's aide and camp counselor apprenticeships with Minoru Niizuma and Robert Arneson painting student of Milton Resnick, sculpture student of Jeanne Linder Skills: drafting, design, computers, communications, working with people and machinery, physical labor, research and investigation and art in a variety of media, geometry, folk dancing, and bicycling.

Laurie Lamont Murray

The years spent as an architecturally-trained interior designer are built into Laurie Lamont Murray’s paintings and metal sculptures. On canvas, she finds herself reaching beyond the limits of the painted surface, so that adding 3-D to her toolbox became almost inevitable. With steel or canvas, she creates a conversation between shapes and colors, layers and line, recognized by its geometric element and strong sense of design. Laurie is best known for her abstract paintings but loves doing portraits and landscapes as well. She has won numerous awards in juried shows throughout the greater Philadelphia area, and her work is included in corporate and private collections across the United States. Visit her website at Laurielamontmurray.com.

Laura Orfanelli

Laura Orfanelli is a self-taught artist based out of Chester County. She works with acrylics and enjoys using bright, powerful color.  

Marta Rose

Marta Rose is a writer, multi-media artist, and creative coach living in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. She received her MFA in creative writing from the Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College, and she is currently working on a novel set in the Kensington and Germantown neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Marta began working in visual art a few years ago, and taught herself to draw, and then to paint, from free courses on the internet beginning in the spring of 2018. This is her first finished painting and her first portrait. Marta believes that creativity can and should be cultivated for the well-being of each of us and for the world, and she maintains a website called Wired for Creativity (www.martarose.com) dedicated to providing free guidance, resources, support, and community for everyone crafting the creative life they long for and deserve.

Karen Ruggles

Karen Ruggles is an assistant professor of digital art at DeSales University. This is her third year as an artist for the Souls Shot Portrait Project. Karen works primarily in Photoshop with custom digital brushes to complete her work.

B. Douglas Smith

B Douglas Smith is a modern artist and Army veteran living and working in South Philadelphia. For the past 15 years he has exhibited abstract expressionist, pop, and urban art influenced paintings in his home city, NYC, NJ, and parts of Germany and Italy. He loves sharing and interpreting art, having put hundreds of paintings and sculptures into private collections. Highlights include three sculptures accepted into the Philadelphia Sculptors Juried Exhibition: Pinned, an abstract video projected at the MOMA for Abstract Currents, and most recently touring his painting of M. John Miller in the first annual "Souls Shot: Portraits Of Victims Of Gun Violence" throughout the Philadelphia area.
Aside from creating art, He has also curated over 100 group art shows and helped develop the Washington Boro Artwalk in northern NJ. His passion for art is born from a love of color and a need to connect with our human family deeper than on the surface of life. Art is love in action and his work is intended to foster conversation, inspire unity, spark personal reflection, and invite criticism of techniques and beliefs . His process is very meditative, usually focused on the moment and enjoying the act of painting. This allows him to be free to explore a fleeting creative space and experiment with multiple techniques in mixed media. 
He enjoys creating custom work for homes and businesses as well as designing for bands. Please feel free to reach out to him to discuss commissions, to visit his studio, or purchase a Painter Bry original. 
Instagram.com/therealbigbadbry    Bryansmithphilly.wixsite.com/painterbry     Facebook.com/painterbry

Juliette Watts

“It is a goal of mine to see beyond the mere literal in the world, and to search for symbolism. I strive to find connection, likeness, affinity, and meaning in all that surrounds me. This is most especially true when I draw or paint the human form. It is endlessly beautiful, and gives me joy to contemplate what is before me, and to respond with paint and line.” 

Juliette is painter and illustrator, working mostly in watercolor. She spent a number of years as a medical and scientific illustrator, and has illustrated 3 children’s books.. This is her first watercolor portrait. She also monitors and participates in life drawing workshops at the Plastic Club, one of the oldest art clubs in Philadelphia.

Keisha Whatley

Raised in West Philadelphia, Keisha Whatley is a Philadelphia artist who graduated from the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. At a very young age, Keisha excelled at the drawing and painting discipline and went on to study at Parsons School of Design (NY), The School of Visual Arts (NY) and The Art Institute of Philadelphia (PA). Her work aims to create something aesthetically beautiful while challenging viewers to question beliefs, inherent biases and the need for compassion in everyday life. She started Custom Arts Studio, LLC, a full service visual arts business, in 2014.
Her work can be seen at The Black Writers Museum and The Colored Girls Museum, both in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Her work has also been exhibited at The Barnes Foundation Museum.    
www.customartsstudio.com

Ruth Wolf

Julie Zahn

Julie Zahn is a mixed-media painter and printmaker who works with woodcut, painting/drawing and Japanese stencil dyeing (katazome). She explores lines, edges and paint/ink densities and her collage elements are so thin it is difficult to tell they are pasted paper. She achieves a unique transparency by peeling the papers down to the pigment layer and applying them with wheat starch paste using a small, broom-like brush. After four years’ training at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Julie travelled to Kyoto on a travel scholarship. There she apprenticed with an antique screen restorer and studied Japanese stencil dyeing (katazome) and woodcut. She has a studio in Philadelphia and exhibits frequently. Her work can also be seen at www.juliezahn.net.