After 5: Art Review: Capturing Good Will

Called Gallery of Angels, the exhibit comprised nine donated photographs on display in December at the Josh Mitchell Fine Art Gallery. Organizers held a silent auction last month, selling two photos and raising a few thousand dollars for Ronald McDonald House en route to its 2007 campaign goal of $70,000, the local nonprofit’s most ambitious annual amount.

As organizers write the next chapter – which artist Josh Mitchell dubs “the angel ministry” – they hope to involve the business community.

Mitchell’s vision is that the seven remaining photos would hang in the lobby or offices of any business, corporate center, church or nonprofit entity for short stints throughout the year.

“Any suggestions are welcome,” says Mitchell, who’s taken it upon himself to shop for temporary homes for the pieces – possibly up to two months at a time – in order to raise more awareness about Ronald McDonald House, 949 E. Primrose St.

“We felt that the success of this exhibit laid in education,” Mitchell says, noting that much of the audience through his gallery was learning about the “home away from home” that Ronald McDonald House provides families whose children are under hospital care in Springfield. “This was a magnificent vehicle for Ronald McDonald House PR.”

RMH President and CEO Bonnie Keller says the gallery – a concept created by longtime RMH volunteers Judith Garson and Linda Regan – serves as the centerpiece of the annual campaign, which consistently carries an angels theme.

“That’s what our organization has been about since inception,” she says, referring to the angelic role of hosting nearly 400 families a year. “(Gallery of Angels) gives diverse viewpoints of how many different ways you can help people.”

Along with the photos, each artist included in writing their interpretation of angels or the angel they’ve photographed.

In addition to the gallery, RMH has created a set of 11 postcards – one each of the photos, one featuring all of the images and another of the Gallery of Angels poster. The postcard set is available from RMH for $10 apiece. RMH also has available at no charge a small booklet of the nine photographs, the artist’s writings and short words of thanks from families that have been helped.

It also appears that the life of the Gallery of Angels will extend beyond 2008. Keller says the photographers have agreed to donate prints to hang in a new RMH home to open in 2009.

Angel Artists

Angel Artists

Christy Blehm

Tom Davis

Dan Frisch

Jim Mayfield

Josh Mitchell

Paul Speed

Jeffrey Sweet

Gwen Walstrand

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