17 Jul 2023 Hendrix hosts ‘100 Faces of Conway’ exhibition July 28 to Aug. 30

CONWAY — The Windgate Museum of Art at Hendrix College is proud to present the exclusive exhibition of “100 Faces of Conway,” a portrait project by local artist Faye Hedera. The opening reception, set for Friday, July 28, from 5 to 7 p.m., is free and open to the public, as are all of the museum’s exhibitions and programs.

This exhibition is the only time all 100 portraits will be displayed together. The works will remain on view until August 30. Visitors are welcome during the WMA’s summer operating hours: Wednesdays through Saturdays from July 28 through August 19, and Tuesdays through Saturdays beginning August 22. Museum hours on these dates are from noon to 5 p.m.

Born out of the artist’s desire to get to know the people in her new community, the 100 Faces of Conway project came about shortly after Hedera moved to town from Florida. 501 LIFE Magazine Publisher Jeremy Higginbotham is one of the 100 faces Hedera painted. The paintings were all completed in the span of about six months. Hedera hopes that her work overall, and this project in particular, will bring people together on common ground, helping them forge new connections and honor each other.

“Each person in this project has a unique story to tell,” Hedera said. “One of the sweetest parts of receiving so many nominations was having the privilege of hearing why people thought their nominee should be one of the 100 Faces; their humanity and their acts of service and the value they each contribute to Conway were just a few of the reasons why they wanted to honor each other. It made me very aware of the importance of each portrait. I worked very hard to pour myself into their expressions in the hopes that they would not only recognize themselves, but they would feel beautiful and seen by me – and loved by their community.”

“We at the WMA are thrilled to be able to host this exhibition,” said Christian Cutler, the museum’s director. “Faye’s paintings invite the Conway community to discover human connections through people and place. By hosting this exhibition, the Windgate Museum of Art gets to showcase the city’s diverse community, inviting patrons to see the soul of our city.”

Hedera also has arranged to benefit the broader community through this series of portraits: 100% of the proceeds from these works will be donated to Haven Conway, a qualified residential treatment program for adolescent females in foster care between the ages of 12 and 18 who have experienced trauma. 

“There are a hundred incredible organizations in Conway making a big impact. At first I had trouble choosing between them as the beneficiary of the portrait sales, but then someone made a nomination that led me straight to Haven,” Hedera said. “As soon as I read their mission I knew in my heart that they were the right ones to invest my time into. After the project was completed, I discovered that their development manager, Emma Barré, was connected to my family roots in Beebe, Arkansas. Since my grandmother is such an important part of why I became an artist, it reaffirmed the sense that each aspect of this project was guided by something bigger than myself. I’m honored to be a small part of sharing awareness of Haven and the lives they change every single day.”