“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1.5
Art in many forms is a reflection of light or the lack thereof. Light can create a photograph, expose a negative, highlight important details, and make subjects come alive. This also applies to the artwork and individuals from our biannual journal Hope’s Lens. We are now celebrating our third subscription of Hope’s Lens and are so excited to share the miracles that have transpired. With new artists, mediums, and styles in place we are growing as a community and movement. We cannot wait to share with Wilmington and other advocates what we have done, are doing, and plan to accomplish in the upcoming year.
A little about Hope’s Lens ̶ The first publication took place in August 2017. After a summer of creating and collecting artwork from our friends experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, and mental illness we took a leap into the production of an art journal that displayed their work and stories. We then mailed out the twenty page print and through donations were able to pay the artists for their contributions. Then, with the subscribers from journal number one we created Hope’s Lens two and three in February and August 2018 where we continued to pay the artists with our donations. The anticipated plan is to continue this now progressing rhythm for editions four, five, six and so on.
At the end of 2017 we also had two art shows; one at a local restaurant Foxes Boxes and another at 5th Avenue United Methodist Church. The shows featured our artist in residence, Sharon Spencer’s work Faces of Courage, along with the work from Hope’s Lens: August edition. Our goal is to bring at least one to two art shows a year as a means of selling the artwork where one hundred percent of the proceeds go directly back to the artists. We are simultaneously displaying and selling the artwork on an Etsy store called Hope’s Lens. Lastly, as another means of showing the art and featuring the wonderful things taking place, we have created an Instagram account, HopesLensILM. All of these avenues are ways for us to get the word out the, employ artists, and grow as a community and advocates for the arts.
Exciting times are ahead for this relatively new venture and we are thrilled to take them out into the city of Wilmington. We talk about light and darkness, not just because it is the main key in making art work but because it’s a means to express how art shines into the lives of those experiencing darkness and how it can transform so many things. The lives impacted from this project are many and it’s only anticipated to change many more. Those that have participated in our publications will tell you that it has helped clear their minds, it has brought them peace, and community in a way that they were needing. As the founder and editor of Hope’s Lens collecting, photographing, and designing the journal has made a huge impact in my heart. Art is not just about technique and “the next best thing,” it is breathing life into the lifeless. It is overcoming the darkness. It is relationships and story telling and here with Hope’s Lens we celebrate all of those things. We couldn’t be happier to share that with others.
Please consider donating to this incredible venture. 100% of the proceeds goes directly to the artists. You can send a check to The Hope Center at PO Box 1642, Wilmington NC 28402. Or you can give online by following this PayPal link. Please put in the memo that this is for Hope’s Lens and we will mail you our latest journal. Check out our Etsy Shop by clicking here. And you can check out our Instagram page by clicking here.