The Portrait Project: Faces of Resilience by Colleen Kassner

Colleen Kassner will be one of thirty artists participating in the Madonna and Child: Interpreted exhibit I'm curating for Gallery H20/Soup's On, this fall. Colleen currently has a beautiful exhibit of her oil painted portraits showing at Gallery Grand in the Grand Avenue Club. The Grand Avenue Club (GAC) is an independent non-profit organization created to provide Milwaukee County citizens who experience mental illness, a supportive community with an array of opportunities to help with their recovery and productivity.

Colleen had the honor this past year of being the "Artist in Residence" at the Gallery Grand through a grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation/Mary Nohl fund. This residency culminated in the creation of twenty large oil painted portraits of Grand Avenue Club members.

The first thing I notice when exiting the elevator doors directing me down the short hallway to the gallery are these hauntingly beautiful larger than life self portraits of Colleen. They show her own earlier struggle with mental illness. Each painting rich with emotion and depth of character at a particular moment in time. I enter the gallery and am greeted by Colleen as she enthusiastically introduces me to the beautiful exhibition space. Each portrait is accompanied by a brief bio of the individual represented in her work.

We have all heard of the proverb stating that "the eyes are the window to the soul". Colleen's twenty oil painted portraits express that with an immense amount of accuracy and realism. As a portrait photographer I was immediately drawn to the expressive quality and attention that she represented in the eyes of all her friends. Each portrait representing the uniqueness of the individual. The luminous quality of the skin, especially the highlights, also drew me into each and every portrait. Colleen  poignantly represents the twenty members of GAC with the love and respect she feels for both the people and the organization.

The show runs through September 23 with a closing/dedication event from 4:30-7:30, that evening. The gallery is located at 604 N. Water Street, Milwaukee, WI. and is open Tuesday's and Wednesday's from 10am-3pm or by appointment by calling 414-795-7108.