November 4th - December 3rd
Reception: November 4th, 6 - 9pm, Panel at 6:30
Wanderlife Gallery, 2231 S 13th St, Philadelphia, PA
RSVP Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/point-of-entry-x-safe-horizon-atp-art-exhibition-tickets-423832704027
Point of Entry is a series of oil paintings depicting people’s scars and sites of somatic healing. Each intimate portrait is painted on a piece of broken mirror, allowing the viewer to see themselves reflected within. Together these pieces allude to being part of a larger, imperfect mosaic of community and invites the viewer to glimpse into a life outside their own and see a part of themselves.
Point of Entry seeks to amplify narratives from marginalized communities that disproportionately experience mental illness, but whose stories are vastly underrepresented in our conversations about mental health. In light of this mission, the project is collaborating with Safe Horizon, a non-profit organization that provides services to victims of crimes. Since 2001, the Anti-Trafficking Program (ATP) has provided trauma-informed intensive case management, psychotherapy, and legal assistance to trafficking survivors.
This project intends to enrich community discussions of trafficking while also portraying stories of how people heal, illuminating how we connect with others and hold space for their experiences. Butterflies created by trauma survivors and visitors will be intertwined throughout the exhibition, representing the color and resilience we possess. Vulnerabilities are universal yet idiosyncratic; more, they are seeds from which beauty creatively emerges.
Special thanks to Safe Horizon for their support of this project. We would like to thank the Puffin Foundation and ArtisPHL for their support of this project.