Tag: #portraits

The Memory Project: Portraits for Columbian Children

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A small group of upper-level students created portraits again this year for The Memory Project.
The Memory Project is a youth arts organization that promotes intercultural understanding and kindness between children around the world.  

“The Memory Project gets its name from its first intention, which was to provide handmade, heartfelt portraits as special memories to children in orphanages.  Now our intention has expanded to touching the lives of youth around the world facing many types of challenges, while opening our hearts and minds so they can touch ours in return. Together we are using art to reach a distant destination: a kinder world in which all youth see themselves in one another regardless of differences in their appearance, culture, religion, or circumstances.” –Ben Shumaker, Founder

This year the Memory Project matched PRP art students with children in displaced by violence in Columbia. Students worked from photographs, along with personal insights provided by the children, such as their favorite color or toy. It was a very quick turnaround to fit them in between our other projects this fall, but they did a beautiful job on their artwork. The best part was to see the heartwarming video of Ben delivering the portraits to the children–students experienced the joy of giving something of themselves to make someone else happy. Students who took part in the project are already asking if we can do more. I’d say, Mission Accomplished!

The Memory Project: Art Students Create Portraits to Share with Nigerian Children

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This fall, students participated in a global art initiative, known as The Memory Project. Started in 2004 by Ben Schumaker, the project’s purpose is to connect youth around the world through art. Students create portraits to help build cultural understanding through international kindness.

“The Memory Project gets its name from its first intention, which is to provide handmade, heartfelt portraits as special memories to children in orphanages.  Now our intention has expanded to touching the lives of youth around the world facing many types of challenges while opening our hearts and minds so they can touch ours in return.” –Ben Schumaker

Each year, The Memory Project selects children from two countries. This year, the countries were Ukraine and Nigeria. PRP students received a packet of photographs for 15 children, along with their names, interests, favorite colors, personality traits, and long-term goals. The challenge for each student was to create a portrait that was a strong resemblance, while still adding their own artistic interpretation to convey their subject’s inner beauty and personality.

Our class’s final portraits were mailed out in mid-January 2023. Stay tuned for an update as the artwork is delivered! Thanks to all the students who gave so much love and energy to this project. “Together we are using art to reach a distant destination: a kinder world in which all youth see themselves in one another regardless of differences in their appearance, culture, religion, or circumstances.” 

For more information on The Memory Project, visit https://www.memoryproject.org/about