Our Exhibition's Impact on the Youth of Philadelphia

Patty Rich, who works with students at Lankenau High School, was recently able to bring three graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania who are serving internships at the high school to our exhibition. They are working towards their Masters Degree in Social Work. Each intern has one grade for a caseload, so about 80 students, but really any student can seek out support from any of the MSW interns.

We were joined by Maxayn Gooden, mother of Jah’sun Ahmad Patton, whose portrait by Caroline Stoughton, “Jah’sun - Truly a Ray of Sun to Everyone” is in the current exhibition, and Monique Lewis, sister of Richard Lewis, Jr., whose portrait by Martha Rich, “Pop Pop” is also in the exhibition.

'Jah’sun—Truly a Ray of Sun to Everyone' | Portrait of Jah'sun Ahmad Patton by Caroline Stoughton

'Pop Pop' | Portrait of Richard Lewis, Jr by Martha Rich

After a brief explanation of the Souls Shot Portrait Project’s mission and vision, we were mesmerized by the two women’s discussion of what it was like to lose someone dearly loved, what it is like to grieve, how to move forward, how to lift up others in the process.

Monique was able to work with the project in the hopes of helping her mother, in particular, but both of her parents, to think about the rich life and legacy of their son, her brother. She became a strong advocate for gun safety and common sense, even speaking out to the young folks who attended Richard’s, Pop Pop’s, funeral. She has relied on her strong faith to keep her positive and keep her in a place of optimism that is extraordinary for someone who also lost her sister a few years before. 

Maxayn, who many heard speak at the opening for the exhibition in Chestnut Hill at the beginning of the month, has poured her energies into two organizations that she founded that seek to tutor and mentor young men and empower young women: Jahworld_18 and Women of Valor. Both of these strong women gave us a beautiful oral portrait of who their son and brother was. They told us stories about their antics, their triumphs, their quirks - we all could feel their presence. 

Interestingly, both artists used bold colors in their depictions of Jah’sun and Pop Pop. Maxayn said they reelected accurately Jah’sun’s colorful personality. Martha Rich explained to Monique that the colorful stripes emanating from Pop Pop are meant to represent all of the various talents that he had. Monique loves the idea of the illuminating effect that represents her brother.

The interns are well suited for their future profession and asked engaging questions and displayed an amazing level of empathy. Standing amidst all of the portraits, all so different, all so inviting and compelling, we felt the power of artwork in its dual role of goading viewers to take action to end the violence and uplifting the grieving loved ones. 

We hope that the high school students that they are working with, many of them all too familiar with gun violence, will be able to visit the exhibition.

We are so grateful to all of our passionate artists that have created this collective artwork that is so effective, so all encompassing, so full of love and hope, and to the loved ones for their invaluable contribution to the creative process. 

Laura Madeleine, Executive Director of the Souls Shot Portrait Project.