Portraits by Martinsville High School Students Travel to Rwanda

Portraits created by Martinsville High School students have traveled over 7,000 miles to Rwanda, where they were gifted to the Rwandan children who inspired them.

In October 2012, 10 Martinsville High School art students took part in a Piedmont Arts painting workshop with visiting artist Marjorie Perrin, an educator with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Each student received a photograph of a Rwandan orphan and painted a portrait of the child during the workshop. Earlier this month the finished paintings were delivered to the Rwandan children as gifts through the Memory Project, a nonprofit initiative that brings artists and art students together to create portraits to give to disadvantaged children around the world.  

Ashley, a Peace Corps volunteer who has been living and working at an orphanage in Rwanda for the past two years, delivered the portraits to the children. Of her journey, she said, "It's been a lot of fun and the kids are super happy."  

 Piedmont Arts Education Coordinator Heidi Pinkston added, "The Memory Project connects our local students with children from around the world through the power of art. By creating these portraits, our students are giving treasured gifts to children who have nothing. Piedmont Arts thanks founder Ben Schumaker and all the Memory Project volunteers for continuing to offer this wonderful opportunity for students and children around the world. It truly enriches the lives of all involved."  

Piedmont Arts is a nonprofit art museum and educational outreach center in Martinsville, Virginia that facilitates ongoing enrichment of the lives of the people of Martinsville, Henry County and the surrounding area, through positive exposure, education and experiences in the visual and performing arts.  Piedmont Arts is a statewide partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.  Learn more at www.piedmontarts.org.