SOCIAL WORK WORKS

Trinity Cathedral
13 September through 20 November 2009

The New Jersey Chapter of the Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts (ECVA) will present Social Work Works, an exhibit of paintings by Trenton native Lou Storey, in Synod Hall from September 13 through November 20.

Everyone is invited to a reception for the artist on Sunday, September 13 from 3pm to 5pm.

The 25 paintings in the exhibition were selected from an ongoing series that chronicles the artist’s experience in the realm of social work. From the entry point of university graduate social work study and hospital internship through employment at an HIV/AID Clinic — followed by work at a Psychiatric Day Program — these colorful and expressive paintings illustrate the artist’s intent to examine, comprehend, and embrace theories, practices and concepts of the helping profession. They also express a host of feelings, core values, and emotions inherent to the field of social work.

"I find that many of the values and goals of social work mirror the pursuit of truth that is fundamental to art," said the artist. "Bright colors, intricate patterns and motion continue to be my visual vocabulary as I now paint what I see (or need to understand) in my rewarding life as a social worker."

A native of Trenton, New Jersey and a graduate of Mercer County Community College, Storey has been exhibiting and selling his artwork nationally for over 30 years and is a Signature Artist at the Noyes Museum in Oceanville, New Jersey. Storey’s involvement in the arts has been both as an artist and as an arts advocate.

In addition to his work as an artist, he currently holds the position of Clinical Social Worker at CPC Behavioral Health in Aberdeen, New Jersey.

:: Earlier exhibits ::

WORLD OF MUSIC Lee Whiteman, a member of Trinity Cathedral, shared some of his vast collection of photographs on a musical theme. From Little Richard to the Trinity Cathedral Choir to a grandmotherly piano lesson at home, Lee's photographs captured his love of music in its many forms. The exhibit featured an array of close-ups of well-known jazz and popular artists, as well as home-grown musicians.

EXPRESSIONS OF HOPE The artist/clients of HomeFront and Partners in Recovery joined forces in an amazing testimony to the power of creative expression. From men and women whose lives have been interrupted by homelessness, addiction, or mental illness, comes art that speaks from the heart and surges with life and hope. The exhibition was held at Trinity Cathedra from April 6-May 22, 2008.

MANY GIFTS, ONE SPIRIT Allow the Spirit to stir up your creativity! ECVA New Jersey held its Second All-Diocese Art Exhibition from May 25- July 12, 2008 in Synod Hall, Trinity Cathedral, Trenton. Artists 18 years of age or older and associated with the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New Jersey were invited to participate.

BEYOND TRADITION Quilts by Nancy Breland These exquisitely made original quilt designs incorporate traditional quilting patterns to bring a fresh look to a beloved and time-honored craft. The exhibit ran from July 5 through August 31 in Synod Hall. Following services at Trinity Cathedral on July 15, Nancy Breland remained on hand to talk about her work.

THE ART OF RECOVERY We mounted an exhibit of work by the artists of "Partners in Recovery", a program of Catholic Charities and "The A-Team Artists" of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) from May 14 to July 14, 2006 at Trinity Cathedral. "Partners in Recovery" is a partial-care program of Catholic Charities which provides integrated treatment of the co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance abuse. A Recovery Model is followed as members are viewed as active, responsible partners in their treatment. "The A-Team Artists of Trenton" grew out of the Extra Helpings program of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK). They are still based at the Soup Kitchen but have become an independent business entity, a limited liability partnership run by the artists themselves.

OVERCOMING RACISM We sponsored an exhibition, Overcoming Racism, at the 222nd Convention on 3 and 4 March 2006 in Cherry Hill, on 11 and 24 February at Trinity Cathedral, Synod Hall, and also from 5 March to 12 May 2006 at Synod Hall. You can read about the exhibit and the artists, and see the paintings, here. The paintings were commissioned especially for “NO MORE IN MY CHURCH!”, an anti-racism conference of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey held 19 November 2005 at Trinity Cathedral, Trenton.

WILLIAM EARL PERRY A Retrospective in Synod Hall, Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, which ran from October through January 2006.

NEW LIFE An Easter Art Exhibit in Synod Hall, Trinity Cathedral, Trenton, Easter Day through the Day of Pentecost (27 March to 12 May 2005). See an overview of the exhibit here.