Many artists share their creativity and compassion to make a positive difference in the world. You’ll find articles about many world changers on this website. Their actions convey their calling to serve humanity. This article presents two such extraordinary artists Rosemarie Adcock and Deborah Sofferman. Read about their charitable deeds and humanitarian contributions.
Rosemarie Adcock: “Amazing things can and do happen.”
Rosemarie Adcock, rosemarieadcock.com, is an exceptional artist who creates monumental realistic paintings filled with symbolism. “In my Biblical paintings, I seek to teach several stories at once by showing how and why images and symbols connect across the many pages in the Old and New Testament Scriptures that form a breathtaking harmony spanning time from the beginning.”
She and her husband founded Arts for Relief and Missions™, arminc.org, nearly 26 years ago.
The purpose of the organization is, “to use the fine arts, music, and biblical teaching for the work of God’s kingdom. We are Christians who work in our fields of expertise; some as professional artists and photographers, some as missionaries, some as pastors or music ministers.”
In the autumn of 1988, Adcock documented the lives of Russian refugees in 26 oil paintings with accompanying texts that told their stories. The series grew to include 120 paintings and texts that covered the overthrow of communism in the former Soviet Union. These paintings toured the United States and Europe for seven years.
Adcock states, “Essentially every event, exhibit we do has a portion of proceeds used for the charitable organization. Long story short, in the course of an international tour of 120 paintings, I raised contributions that were shipped to Moscow and used for humanitarian relief, of orphans, poor families… More recent focus has been on African widows, raising support for purchasing farm animals. Some have been direct contributions, for example, to help restore stolen household goods that left some elderly widows destitute; though in latter years it has been from portions of sale proceeds.”
The artist signed a licensing agreement this past year and explains, “I expect this will be a primary source of funding for the humanitarian work. There is a recording of me speaking to a group of about 1200 at this link on the organization’s website, called Chosen Not Rejected arminc.org/resources where I tell the story of how all this began. Nothing I had imagined or sought out, but amazing things can and do happen.”
Deborah Sofferman: “Donating is a soul-activity, just as art is.”
Deborah Sofferman is a multi-talented artist whose one-person photography exhibition “Caught in the Art” is being presented at the 92 St Y Art Center, a cultural center in New York City, NY. Sofferman’s show runs from November 27 – December 22, 2018 and is about artists “caught in the synergy looking at their own art while immersed in creating.”
Her opening reception has been purposely scheduled for November 27th, which is declared as #GivingTuesday, a global phenomenon that was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y. Since its launch #GivingTuesday has transformed communities and lives around the world. This is a cause with which Sofferman strongly identifies.
Sofferman has committed to donate the proceeds from her exhibition to the 92 St Y Art Center. “In preparation for this exhibit I realized more than ever how beneficial the communal studios at the 92 St Y are to the NYC art community.” Through this exhibition her desire is “to shine a light on the wonderful artists I see working in the 92Y studios, deeply immersed in their art.” She hopes when artists see the photographs of themselves at work they will feel encouraged and viewers of the exhibition may feel inspired to also express themselves creatively.
You can learn more about her exhibition at PeopleLookingAt.com and Instagram @PeopleLookingAt. You can view her ceramic art at deborahsoffermanstudio.com
The artist and her husband have been practicing acts of generosity for decades. “Thirty-two years ago in Connecticut my husband and I began raising funds for families who needed food to eat and basic toys for children to play with. Every Thanksgiving kick-off of our annual fundraising we don pilgrim clothing and stand roadside to collect frozen turkeys and canned food in order to bring awareness to the essence of this wonderful holiday we all enjoy celebrating. I believe if people notice us but do not donate to our cause they will donate somewhere else because the idea has been planted. Throughout the years, our efforts have provided meals to thousands of people in need.”
The press has taken notice of the couple’s charitable deeds. Publicity about their fundraising events have been prominently featured in the CT Post, New Haven Register, Shelton paper and several news blogs.
Sofferman emphasizes, “Donating is a soul-activity, just as art is. The action of donating often inspires other people to give. I believe whenever there’s an opportunity to lend a helping hand, it’s important to do so and what is sown is also reaped.” The artist explains, “In whatever I do it occurs to me to be helpful. Helpfulness is healing for everyone.”
Rosemarie Adcock and Deborah Sofferman remind us every day is an opportunity to expand our capacity for philanthropy through creativity and compassion. As Mother Teresa taught us, “Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.” Aesop said, “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.”
You may also want to read
World Changers
How Artists Help Charities
Giving Tuesday is an Inspirational Global Movement
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