Artist Faye Hedera’s works focus on a
selection of ‘difference makers’ in the community she now calls home
CONWAY,
Arkansas (July 14, 2023)—The Windgate Museum of Art
at Hendrix College
is proud to present the exclusive exhibition of “100 Faces of Conway,” a portrait project
by local artist Faye Hedera. The opening
reception, set for Friday, July 28, from 5 to 7 p.m., is free and open to the
public, as are all of the museum’s exhibitions and programs.
This
exhibition is the only time all 100 portraits will be displayed together. The
works will remain on view until August 30. Visitors are welcome during the
WMA’s summer operating hours: Wednesdays through Saturdays from July 28 through
August 19, and Tuesdays through Saturdays beginning August 22. Museum hours on
these dates are from noon to 5 p.m.
Born
out of the artist’s desire to get to know the people in her new community, the
100 Faces of Conway project came about shortly after Hedera moved to town from
Florida. The paintings were all completed in the span of about six months. Hedera
hopes that her work overall, and this project in particular, will bring people
together on common ground, helping them forge new connections and honor each
other.
“Each
person in this project has a unique story to tell,” Hedera said. “One of the
sweetest parts of receiving so many nominations was having the privilege of
hearing why people thought their nominee should be one of the 100 Faces; their
humanity and their acts of service and the value they each contribute to Conway
were just a few of the reasons why they wanted to honor each other. It made me
very aware of the importance of each portrait. I worked very hard to pour
myself into their expressions in the hopes that they would not only recognize
themselves, but they would feel beautiful and seen by me - and loved by their
community.”
“We
at the WMA are thrilled to be able to host this exhibition,” said Christian
Cutler, the museum’s director. “Faye’s paintings invite the Conway community to
discover human connections through people and place. By hosting this
exhibition, the Windgate Museum of Art gets to showcase the city’s diverse
community, inviting patrons to see the soul of our city.”
Hedera
also has arranged to benefit the broader community through this series of
portraits: 100% of the proceeds from these works will be donated to Haven
Conway,
a qualified residential treatment program for adolescent females in foster care
between the ages of 12 and 18 who have experienced trauma.
“There
are a hundred incredible organizations in Conway making a big impact. At first
I had trouble choosing between them as the beneficiary of the portrait sales,
but then someone made a nomination that led me straight to Haven,” Hedera said.
“As soon as I read their mission I knew in my heart that they were the right
ones to invest my time into. After the project was completed, I discovered that
their development manager, Emma Barré, was connected to my family roots in
Beebe, Arkansas. Since my grandmother is such an important part of why I became
an artist, it reaffirmed the sense that each aspect of this project was guided
by something bigger than myself. I’m honored to be a small part of sharing
awareness of Haven and the lives they change every single day.”
About
the Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix College
The
Windgate Museum of Art is the art
museum located on the campus of Hendrix College. With a vision to be the
premier teaching art museum in Arkansas, the Windgate presents outstanding art
exhibitions, compelling educational programs, and invigorating social
activities for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to campus. Free and open
to all, the museum uses hands-on experiences to train students in all facets of
museum work, including curatorial research, collection management, educational
and social programming, marketing and communications, as well as all aspects of
exhibition research, planning, installation, and evaluation. The Windgate
Museum of Art is made possible with major support from the Windgate Foundation
and the Alice L. Walton Foundation.
About
Hendrix College
A
private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently
earns recognition as one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions,
and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the
Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and rigor, innovation, and
value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous college guides, lists,
and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been affiliated with the United
Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.