New Exhibition of Portraits Opens
Thirty-one new portraits, representing thirty-one souls lost to gun violence, are installed in beautiful Widener Hall at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia. The opening reception and program, Friday, November 4, was attended by over two hundred people: family members, friends, artists, members of the community. Artist Amanda Condict and Marcia Hatchett spoke about their collaboration on Amanda’s portrait of Marcia’s son, Craig.
The evening was filled with tears and some laughter amidst the moving and beautiful portraits paying tribute to those lost to us all.
Attendees at the reception on November 4.
John Wilkinson, pastor at the church, ended the program with thoughts on the power of art as he has come to understand it through the writings of James Baldwin. He said “Baldwin . . . was an artist. He believed in, and his life demonstrated, the power of art to affect change, to influence hearts and minds and souls.” Baldwin himself said “Painters have taught writers how to see. And once you’ve had that experience, you see differently.” Rev. Wilkinson’s hope, and indeed the mission of Souls Shot Portrait Project, is that those who look at our portraits see things differently. He observed “I deal in words, primarily, and meetings, and charts and graphs, and facts and figures. I rarely deal in art. But with this [the portraits], I see differently. I see families as courageous and brave, summoning courage and bravery they would much prefer to let lie fallow. By telling their story, and the story of their loved one, they reach back and bring into this present moment a powerful tradition - - the power of memory. The power of memory.
Artist Nancy Agati reading the poem she wrote to accompany her portrait of Aveida Ali George.
Howard Henry Chen installing his portrait of Kamaj Juanir Rudd and family.
I see all of you seeing this work, and I hope it has an impact, moves the needle, as they say. Maybe your seeing leads you into deeper compassion, into deeper anger, into action, whatever that action may be. “
And Baldwin’s words: ““The artist has to tell, because nobody else in the world can tell, what it is like to be alive. All I’ve ever wanted to do is tell that. I’m not trying to solve anybody’s problems, not even my own. I’m just trying to outline what the problems are. I want to be stretched, shook up, to overreach myself, and to make you feel that way too.”
Artist Helene Halstuch with her portrait of Zaki Thomas and his mother Veronica Rex.
We are grateful to all who attended the Friday night and Sunday morning programs, to all of the participants, to all who made the events possible, and to Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill for their unflagging support.
Plan your visit to view this exhibition by viewing our Schedule of Events page here.