Courage Ablaze is a museum quality traveling exhibit that has been experienced by over 70,000 people. The work serves as a megaphone—speaking with tender boldness. Courage Ablaze pillars, icons of strength, invite movement and involvement. As viewers encircle the 7-foot pillars, they engage with the image on the front and the story printed on the…
The sound of lots of young voices: “My hero is…” A man wrote the name of the woman that hid his mother during the Holocaust. Hometown Hero visitor: “This is what life is about. Honoring our heroes.” A military man crawled up to the painting on his belly to write the name of his fallen…
It’s been 3 weeks since Hometown Hero looked like this but here is the story behind the picture: While I was installing Hometown Hero in preparation for ArtPrize Seven, a father and his son wanted to participate by writing the names of their heroes on the painting. But, unfortunately, I didn’t have any Sharpie pens.…
Thank you to everyone who supported Hometown Hero! I’ve never made it this far even after seven years of ArtPrize but I finished as a Top 20 Finalist and 3rd Place in the Time-Based category. What an amazing journey! I also need rest after such an exhausting schedule yet so many of my experiences need…
WOOD TV studio on location for ArtPrize at the Grand Rapids Art Museum interviews Pamela about Hometown Hero.
After signing the names of their heroes, a few elderly men have stood in front of Hometown Hero, raised their weathered hands, and saluted their fallen comrades. A few tears fall every time I think of this tender imagery.
ArtPrize Seven visitor response to Hometown Hero has been amazing. So many thousands of heroes being honored. So much reflection and emotion and conversations and silent contemplation. The full canvas cannot stop the expansion of this time-based art. Hero messages are tightly packed, intertwined, now even layered as a reminder that all heroes bind us…