A Beautiful Gathering

On Saturday afternoon, November 7, I had the privilege to welcome the mother and extended family of Shelton Hayes to Widener Hall at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church. Although we could not have a large formal in-person program to unveil the 2020 portraits, the gathering of this affectionate and vibrant family and the warm atmosphere they created evolved into a moving, impromptu event - an intimate opening that honored not only Shelton but all the Souls represented in this new exhibition.

Shelton’s mother, Rhonda Gore, was joined and supported by Shelton’s aunts, cousins, friends and others. They mirrored Tim Barton’s representation of Sheldon’s life and family, who appear as butterflies in Barton’s sculpture. And it did feel like a room full of butterflies at times. Some of Shelton’s relatives had traveled from as far as Virginia and Maryland to view the exhibition and to reunite with their relatives in this place. As we have seen so many times, they were awed and profoundly moved by this collection of portraits and the lives of the Souls. And throughout the visit they gave strength to one another in this emotional endeavor with prayer, love and laughter.

JoAnn Miles Miller, director

Two views of Portrait of Shelton Hayes by Tim Barton