Nathan Silver was selected as the Fall 2018 Artist in Residence of Childhood Fractured Coffee--a Chicago non-profit organization aimed at ending Child Sexual Abuse. Childhood Fractured is also Chicago’s only free coffee shop—and serves as a fun and safe space for the community to heal and bond together.
How did Nathan Silver help this great cause through his art? He decided to give the shop his gift of oil portraiture! On a single large canvas, he painted each patron’s portrait, one by one, day after day, until the canvas was filled with the beautiful, shining, and completely unique individuals of the community. He calls this experimental portrait project a #CommunityComposition, and believes it is a great way to continue to bring community together through art.
Nathan Silver painting members of the community onto his #CommunityComposition at Childhood Fractured Coffee, fall 2018.
“While I painted, I described my portrait process to the impromptu models, conveying to each of them just how unique and beautiful they are to both me and the community. Many of the patrons who posed for my painting were survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, and I was deeply moved to see that by posing for my painting, the sitter gained renewed confidence, poise, and happiness from experiencing and witnessing something so new, engaging, and exciting.
One by one, the large blank canvas filled with the faces of the community! With every added portrait, the composition became tighter and more crowded, still each person remained beautifully unique despite their crowded proximity. The growth of the canvas embodied my philosophy that as a community, we are at our best when we honor and promote our individuality, diversity, and unique backgrounds—despite how scary that may seem.” —Nathan Silver
The first #CommunityComposition was comprised of eight beautiful, unique, shining individuals!
The second #CommunityComposition was comprised of eighteen beautiful, unique, shining individuals!