Quin Sweetman, Originator of Beautiful Lives Lost Portrait Project
(Press Release, Portland, OR)
After the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead,
Quin Sweetman, a full-time artist, felt helpless in the face of yet another
national tragedy of senseless gun violence. She had a brilliant idea to help us
all grieve. Quin gathered 55 artists together via Facebook to make portraits of
the 58 people who were killed. She called the project “Beautiful Lives
Lost”.
“We really don’t like referring to the people who lost their lives
that day as victims,” notes Sweetman. “All of them were people, not
statistics, living rich, rewarding and beautiful lives. They were invisible to
the perpetrator, but all the artists who committed to this project clearly see
their humanity. The artists recognize, remember and honor those lost lives with
their artworks. They volunteered their time, materials, and talents as a loving
gesture to bring some comfort to the families, loved-ones and communities
by showing that people care about their loss”. Following the exhibition
all portraits will be given to the families.
There is powerful visual impact created by showing all of these
portraits together. All 58 artworks will be at The Marcia Policar Gallery in
the Art Institute of Portland during July.
The art styles shown are as varied as the subjects of the portraits.
Sweetman contributed a canvas of off-duty police officer (and 34-year-old
Military Veteran) Charleston Hartfield, “a true blue American guy” depicted in
soft oil brush strokes. Celeste Bergin’s portrait of Special Education
teacher Sandy Casey captures her optimistic and ebullient nature. "I learned a lot about her while painting her, Bergin said, I read somewhere that if you met Sandy just once, you loved her. That is exactly right, through this project I "met" Sandy... and now I love her too.
Sweetman
noted, “Kindness begets kindness. and 'Beautiful Lives Lost' has
created a heartening experience for all the participating artists. The
portraits serve as tangible proof that these 58 people will continue to be
remembered in the most positive light. Art helps us all heal”.
Art Institute of Portland
1122 NW Davis
Portland
Overall exhibit dates July 5-July 27
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