Art and Hope?

I’m an artist…

My name is Elisabeth, I live in this beautiful city called Brisbane. Brisbane is the kind of city that has just the right amount of hustle and bustle with just the right amount of community.

It is Creative, innovative and active there are so many ventures an artist could get involved with, but for me, if its only for arts sake, well its pointless. I want my art to be useful, maybe change someones life, change a community, to bring hope, purpose and liberation to the world around me…do you think that’s possible? Maybe a pipe dream?

Lately I have seen enough bread on the water telling me that there is something powerful, something potentially revolutionary under the surface of what art has been used for in the past and where it is going to go, so lets see, maybe you want to step out on the water with me?

I have created artworks for so many different types of people over the years, and every picture has been like a bridge of connection, its always impacted me the power image has to take us through the door of the visual realm into the still small language of the heart.

Last year I learned about a local charity called New Hope Care, they run a soup kitchen called ‘The Kings Table’ Every Friday morning they head out to the Brisbane shelters and collect men and women young and old, bring them into their church building, where tables are laid out with delicious freshly cooked meals. It is all prepared by a chef so glowing with passion in what he does it would make even the simple of feeds like a banquet. (My Nana used to say the secret ingredient that made her cheese and crackers with tea so good was love, and as corny as it is, its so true). The chef himself was once like the men and women he serves but has found a renewed hope and purpose in life, cooking for the people around the table.

Who are these people? Why are they there?

These are the questions that I want to answer, I want to shine a spotlight on the beautiful people that come to the table, with all their stories, hopes and dreams, their experiences losses and triumphs, people just like you and me, its a journey any one of us could easily have walked, so lets gather around and meet together.

Each week, starting Friday the 16th of March,  I will be heading over to spend time with the amazing volunteers at New Hope Care, and the people who come, Ill be sitting down with willing participants, chatting, sharing a meal and sketching their portrait. I will take some photos to finish off the artworks at home and share the journey as much as I can on here! I hope that you get inspired and that you can join in with your own ability to support the work New Hope Care does too!

For more information about New Hope Care visit – http://www.newhopecare.org.au

This Series will be on display at the annual New Hope Care Art Auction, May 26th at The Edge Brisbane City.

Contact me at

newhopecareart@gmail.com

To donate to the Kings Table visit http://www.newhopecare.org.au

 

 

Paul

The last portrait I did for new hope was with Paul. Paul is a super interesting person, he shared with me his love of flags, the world over he told me the history of the symbols and colours what they meant and the story behind why certain flags were used! Incredibly intelligent and interesting as I never met anyone who knew so much about this subject!

Meet Paul!

Nigel

You may have seen the quick sketch I did of Nigel the first day, he was the first brave one to come sit with me. I took a bunch of photos of him while we talked and I asked way too many serious questions! So this final drawing was done from one of the photos I took that day.

We actually found out we had met over ten years ago through a friend! Funny world isn’t it, I’d thought his face was familiar but we had never actually sat down and spoken before!

It’s amazing how you could just pass by someone today that you knew a long time ago, especially in Nigel’s case with his beard!

Well Nigel is a very gentle fellow, he shared some dreams about things he would like to do in the future, he shared about his love for God and his faith and how God has helped him through the years. He spoke fondly of the church and the Kings Table and the great place it is. We had a few laughs and a few awkward moments as you do, but in the midst I captured this great smile from Nigel and it’s captured my mind ever since, so please meet Nigel!

Robyn

Oh sweet Robyn!

What a character, she has been coming to the Kings table for a while now, she and her partner have found a restored hope and a sense of belonging here, support through tough times ups and downs and help through addiction has just been some of the support they have received, but just as much Robyn has a sunny disposition and a caring heart, she jumped up to take part in this project and share a little bit with me while I took her photo.

Although She has moved further away she was so excited to come back and visit everyone and have lunch with old friends.

Meet Robyn

Christian

Christian came to New Hope just over a year ago, I asked him what I could share about him, and he said ‘ Trust in God and follow the Bible and your life will work out and you’ll get past your troubles.’

Christian like many others have found faith and encouragement here and are more than happy to share with me their story of a new found hope despite their circumstances.

Meet Christian !

If you would like to know more about New Hope Care click the link!

http://www.newhopecare.org.au

Ethan

Working with New Hope Care in this art project has given me the opportunity to connect with so many interesting people.

This portrait is of a young man called Ethan who is also an artist and will be showcasing some of his amazing abstract artworks at the New Hope Care fundraising event at the end of this month! Click the new hope care link below to find out more.

The whole time I was chatting with Ethan during the Kings Table lunch he was keeping an eye out to how he could help out and felt bad he sat with me so long, Ethan has his own battles but tells me since coming and helping out with the Kings table he has found a new sense of purpose and hope knowing that he can do something to help others in need. Ethan has an interesting story and you can see some of his artwork at

http://www.atmospherical.com.au

Meet Ethan!

To know more about New Hope Care and the Fundraising event click here

http://www.newhopecare.org.au