Art in the Service of Others
by Jess Berube
Sometimes, the most human thing to do for a stranger is to see them. Like, really see them. That’s what these students are doing, one portrait at a time.
Seniors Cameron Qiao, behavior and cognitive neuroscience major, and Grace Lien, nutrition sciences major, did not start 2020 with any indication that they would be pioneering an art-centered student organization by the end of the year. Like other rising seniors pursuing the Arts in Medicine certificate, they expected a hands-on practicum working with patients at UF Health Shands Hospital. Then COVID came, and access to the hospital disappeared.
The two were determined to find another opportunity to use art to promote wellness. Supported by Molly Kempson, Shands Artist-in-Residence, they moved forward with an idea to make one. The result? An official student organization called The Portrait Project. Mission: to promote community, well-being and self esteem through visual arts.
The Portrait Project partners with local nonprofits to create portraits for struggling community members. “You can take a photo of anyone, but when you draw someone’s essence you bring to life what you can’t see in a picture,” says Lien. “It’s an add-on to wellness,” Qiao adds, while acknowledging that “[the art] doesn’t take a person’s issues away—that takes the system to be corrected—but it supports well-being beyond the physical level. It feeds the emotional and spiritual.”
We caught up with the founders to discuss their passion for art-making. The conversation revealed a dedication to the craft as an act of service.
Click here to view the full article and subsequent interview with The Portrait Project"s founders!
