Art in the Service of Others
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.
Let’s start with who you are as creatives. What was it like finding your identities as artists at UF?
Qiao: My identity as an artist started as 8 or 9 years old. Out of everything I tried, art classes are what stuck with me. I couldn’t be as creative in other areas in a cool way. In college that shifted when I saw how art could influence other areas, like promoting literacy or providing the value to change things in society. It was the interdisciplinary aspect of art that I found rewarding. I’m not an artist for myself anymore.
Lien: I also started young, but in college I began using art more as a way to cope with things going on in my life. Until I got involved with Arts in Medicine, I never thought of it as a way to impact communities, or how it can distract patients from pain. For this reason, I became more willing to share [my work] with the world.
Tell me about a story about a portrait your organization created.
Qiao: The first round of portraits to go out were for Grace Grows, a community garden organization that helps people experiencing homelessness. When we first spoke with Joseph, a gardener, his passion for the program quickly came out. Grace Grows helped him through a hard part of his life. He wanted to remember that even though it was difficult, there were people who cared about him. This is what they shared with us after:
Joseph was housed recently but he came back to visit us in the garden and we were able to give him this lovely portrait by @theportraitproject.gnv They came to visit a few months ago and asked our gardeners how they would like to be depicted. Joseph wanted them to do a portrait of him with collard greens, sunflowers, and the giant turnip he grew. This garden was his happy place, as it is for many others. Thank you to the Portrait Project for depicting our gardeners for who they are.”
Photo by @gracegrowsgnv
Portrait by Lily Hadaegh, biology major
Describe your team of artists. What is the work process like?
Lien: We have about 10 artists including us. General body meetings include friendly-but-professional critique. Artists are given free range on how to create—digital, acrylic, etc. They are not limited. We give them a month to create each portrait.
Qiao: We encourage each other. I feel inspired by the people involved in The Portrait Project. Such a small group of people can be so prolific.
The Spring 2021 team of artists includes Alicia Steffy, art education; Caitlin Chiampou, nursing; Andrew Le, applied physiology and kinesiology; Carolyn Lightsey, art history; Lily Hadaegh, biology (pre-professional); Camila Rivera, international studies and visual art studies; and Emily Pilley, computer science and visual art studies.
“I wanted to be part of a community of artists and make art meant to benefit others,'' says member Camila Rivera, who joined while COVID-19 restrictions were still in place. “It is incredible to see how art can connect us despite social distancing.”
What have you learned from this project?
Qiao: That when there’s the outline of an idea somewhere, or a space something could fill, you don't have to wait for someone else to do it. Regular people like me can do it, and there are resources to help. There’s always someone who will root for you. We created this because of COVID, but we also couldn't do a lot of projects because of it. No one was sure what we were able to do. Molly kept us going.
Lien: Before The Portrait Project, I really didn’t think we could build our own org. We wrote a proposal and then we went with it. I remember thinking that even if we can't be a student org, if we don't make it in the end, we will do as much as we can. I’m really thankful for Molly. Sometimes it just takes that one person.
Qiao: Another thing I learned is that the ability of art to touch people is more than I thought. Adults are really shy about art. We have to get over this idea that art is for museums, or art is for the people with money. That’s it’s too niche or not relatable. In other cultures art is very human, it’s community-based and brings humanity into art. That’s what we want to do here.
Lien: We went hard and we went far. The journey was full of surprises. Who knew we would have a team I could call close friends? I learned about leadership and how to be a better artist and collaborator. Talking to artists helps my growth as an artist. I would recommend this to student artists.
What is your vision for The Portrait Project?
Lien: We are planning to make this a nonprofit. It takes a lot of hard work and complicated paperwork but we can see this being expanded through a lot of schools.
Qiao: We want this to work outside of Gainesville. I can see it working at UCF, in my hometown of Orlando. I’m really, really wishing for that.
You can follow the project on Instagram at @theportraitproject.gnv.
Above: Portraits for Grace Grows by Emily Pilley, Carolyn Lightsey, Lily Lily Hadaegh, and Camila Rivera