By: Follow South Jersey Staff
SEWELL, N.J. — An art exhibit featuring portraits that celebrate survivors of gun violence and memorialize those whose lives it has claimed is now open at Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ).
“Souls Shot: Portraits of Victims of Gun Violence,” presents diverse works of art that relay graphically or through narrative the essence of the person being portrayed.
The exhibit is curated by Souls Short Portrait Project, a program that links artists with survivors of gun violence or families and friends of victims of gun violence. “The artists meet with the victims’ loved ones to learn about the lives they lived. Our goal is to present diverse works that in some way relay graphically, or through narrative, the essence of the person being portrayed,” their website states.
“We hope that this project will continue to bring some joy and peace to the families and friends of victims and, by bringing attention to the scourge of gun violence in this way, be a call to action to all who see the portraits,” Gloucester County Cultural and Heritage Administrator Erika Gardner said. The Gloucester County Cultural and Heritage Commission is co-sponsoring the exhibit.
The Philadelphia based program, which is exhibiting in New Jersey for the first time, began in 2016 with a “mission is to bring attention to and memorialize the lives lost and tragically altered due to gun violence.”
“By exhibiting the resulting artwork to the public, we invite the community to recognize what has been lost and to take action to end gun violence,” their website states.
Artwork by RCSJ Associate Professor Eoin Kinnarney and Gloucester County artist Loren Dann are showcased in the exhibit.
The exhibit runs now through December 23 at the RCSJ–Gloucester campus located on Tanyard Road in Deptford. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or by appointment. In January, the “Souls Shot” exhibit will be on display at RCSJ’s Clay College in Millville.
For further details or questions regarding the project, contact EGardner@rcsj.edu.
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