MRH 'Beauty, Strength And Courage' Exhibit Celebrates Immigrant Women

From the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District:

March 19, 2021

Artist Bill Perry -- spouse of MRH Discover Club leader Denise Perry -- wanted to paint a series of portraits. In conversations with colleagues, he came up with the idea of illustrating the lives of immigrants, specifically immigrant women. He was moved by their stories of immigrating to the United States and the sacrifices they made to find a better life for their families. He found their stories humanizing and inspiring, so he decided to feature their autobiographical stories as part of his exhibit.

Because of Covid-19, a gallery exhibit wasn’t possible, so the twenty-seven paintings have been on display on Perry’s website (moleculefarm.wixsite.com). Now the large portraits can be seen in person at the Intersect Arts Center at 3636 Texas Street in St. Louis. Later this spring, they will move to the International Institute, then Perry plans to give the women their portraits.

Perry worked from photographs supplied by the women. “I wanted to honor them in that way, by making it look just like them,” Perry said.

Perry teaches drawing, painting and art history at the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School.

Click here to watch HEC TV's feature on Bill Perry.

This press release was produced by the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District. The views expressed are the author's own.