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THE ARTISIT WITHIN
A Haven resident creates stirring
work
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| Christmas Carol |
Shawntay had been at The Haven for
only a month and had not shared her passion for art
when Haven volunteer Sarah Cordeal came to the facility
to teach a painting class last fall. It was during this
class that Shawntay’s tremendous talent became apparent—she
painted a powerful portrait of a woman’s face (shown
on the right). The unique and captivating image was
the unanimous choice for The Haven’s annual holiday
card.
“I wanted to create something that
really popped,” says Shawntay. “Her red hair really
makes her look powerful against the white background.
I put a tree in her eye to show that she was dreaming
of a white Christmas.”
Shawntay has been creating artwork
since she can remember. Her father, an architect, taught
her the basics, value scales, shading, and sketching,
but the talent itself is “God-given.”
“In the first and second grades, I
would write and illustrate stories, then make them into
books,” says Shawntay. “I would bring the books to school
and show my classmates.”
Throughout her education and at Cardinal
Ritter high school, Shawntay excelled in her art classes.
She has always preferred to work with oil pastels and
charcoal. Her subject matter has always been other people,
specifically portraits.
“I love making portraits because I
enjoy being able to interpret the image of someone into
how I perceive that they appear. Drawing and painting
help to relieve tension,” says Shawntay. “It allows
me to escape from my reality for a moment and become
immersed in something else.”
She plans on creating a portrait of
her five-month old daughter Gisselle as soon as she
gets the time and materials. Time is at a premium now,
though. She has just started working at Applebee’s as
a waitress. She is also focusing on saving enough money
to find an apartment. Living at The Haven has given
Shawntay the opportunity to bond with Gisselle and regain
her strength. Also, through art classes taught by volunteers,
Shawntay continues to paint and draw.
“Since I’ve been at The Haven, I’ve
developed a stronger sense of purpose and a greater
peace of mind. If someone were to ask me ‘Who are you?,’
I could answer them now. You can’t progress in life
until you find out who you are. The bad things that
have happened to me are not the end of me, but they
are the beginning, says Shawntay. “I know now that I
am an independent, charismatic, and creative individual.”
In the end, the image that Shawntay
painted for the holiday card has become, in a way, a
self-portrait.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S CORNER
Mother’s Day is Everyday
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| Diane Berry, Executive Director |
Mothering and parenting issues are
the focus of The Haven of Grace residential program.
In order for a mother to practice good parenting skills,
she must not only learn the skills required; but she
must also hold herself in high esteem. Maintaining that
self-esteem requires each of us to have experienced
good parenting. It is a dynamic that affects both previous
and future generations of a family.
The Haven of Grace in essence acts
as a good parent and emulates the function of a mother—so
that each resident learns how to assume her role as
a mother and daughter.
We provide a structured environment
where residents gain self-esteem and acquire life skills
in order to become independent, taxpaying citizens.
A woman’s maturation here at The Haven
frequently alters her broken relationship with her mother.
A resident’s personality changes drastically. Her interaction
with her mother changes; and her mother’s previously
negative response to her daughter changes for the better.
The mother will often compliment her daughter where
there had been none previously. The relationship changes
visibly for the better. Often, the resident no longer
resents her mother, and the mother becomes the person
she can now love and appreciate. Each sees the other
in a different light.
Mother and daughter recognize that
the qualities that they now value in each other had
been there all along. It is a life affirming moment.
The Haven of Grace is a conduit for
rebuilding relationships that endure. It provides the
opportunity for each woman to be nurtured so that each
can reconnect appropriately with her own mother; and
in turn, be a better person for her own baby. The Haven
fosters the spirit of Mother’s Day each day, and passes
that hope to the future.
What could be a more perfect way to
honor a mother than by contributing to an organization
that specializes in parenting?
Please click
here to make a donation. Thank you for your generosity.
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