By Cornelia Seigneur, Special to The Oregonian
“It is an expression of freedom for me,” Edwards said.
Martin French poses with Antoinette Edwards, the director of public safety and peacekeeping in Portland Mayor Sam Adams' office, at the preview of the Exile Poster Project
“Moving from the segregated South to here, my art teacher and mentor Eleanor Kafoury took me to art museums, inviting me into a larger art world than I had seen in my past. That is the beauty of art; it invites the conversations.”
Inviting conversations — and moving those conversations into action — is the hope behind the Exile Poster Project, which officially opened Thursday during the Pearl District’s “First Thursday” Gallery Walk.
Each year the Exile Poster Project will bring awareness to a different area of oppression and injustice in Portland through the medium of the poster. This year’s show features work from local artists who focused their creative expression on exposing the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
The Exile Poster Project is the brainchild of Martin French, an associate professor at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, where he formed a new BFA program in Illustration in 2005.
“The broad theme of exile was where the vision started. I wanted the project to somehow make contact with, and reach out to those who are lost in the fringes of the city,” said French, an award winning illustrator and designer whose client list includes Nike, Disney, and Time Warner.
French is a member of Imago Dei Community, the host of the Exile Poster Project.
Ken Weigel, Antoinette Edwards and Rick McKinley at the Exile Poster Project
Ken Weigel, the pastor of ministry development at Imago Dei, serves on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children steering committee, a Multnomah County task force addressing the various issues involved with child sex trafficking.
“At a meeting, I am hearing them say that art is a missing element as we raise awareness of this ongoing issue,” said Weigel, adding, “and at the same time, Martin was envisioning an Exile Poster Project. It all came together perfectly.”
“It makes it visual for people, showing the innocence of these children who should be out playing,” said Baker. “Imago Dei is such a strong partner, and other churches they bring to the table working on this.”
And Edwards was so impacted by the project that she has requested it be moved to City Hall. Weigel said the show may also move to the State Capitol as well.
Inspiring to action is the ultimate goal. To that end, various sizes of the posters are for sale, with the proceeds to benefit the Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Said Weigel, “With the purchasing of the art, you get to go beyond being aware of it to doing something.”
And, French added, “I believe art can have a dynamic effect on making positive change in the city.”
INFO:
Original story also found online at The Oregonian’s website: http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/05/the_first_exile_poster_project.html
I think art is an under-appreciated ministry within the church. But art can be impactive and transforming. “A picture is worth a thousand words” is a truism. So kudos for Imago Dei Communities for supporting and strengthening their creative ministry. I hope the images will lead to questions, and answers, and action! I fully support them. Good article!
Cornelia, Thank you for highlighting the necessity for communities to address this heart-wrenching problem. My son, along with his class at West Salem High School attended the Oregon legislative committee yesterday which is considering a bill that will further work to strongly address this evil–HB425.
The Exile Poster Project steps into a crucial gap in the public’s knowledge and understanding of the problem. This project brings the concern to a personal level, below the level of social norms. The legislature can seek to punish behavior and establish what if normative, but individuals change after their personal experience is impacted. My family and I applaud this work.