Faces of the World, Inc.
Stephen Bennett, the SuperPortrait painter from New York City,
makes annual trips around the world to paint portraits of indigenous
peoples. Young, old, joyful, and withered faces populate these
vibrant canvases, celebrating a variety of ethnic strains in a
tapestry painted with strong brushwork. Stephen's objective is
to share his experiences of the diversity of human life. His work
has been used to promote and preserve native cultures in the United
States, Mexico, St. Martin, Panama, French Polynesia, the Seychelles,
Tanzania and Australia.
At present, Stephen’s work is self-funded and supported
by sales of his work and the sponsorship of a few private companies.
Stephen would like to further and expand this program of bringing
people together to celebrate human life through art, and to celebrate
and preserve diversity by informing others of local traditions
and practices. All too often indigenous peoples are pushed to
the fringes of modern society. The power of these vibrant portraits
and their public exhibition helps return the beauty and relevancy
of indigenous people to a genuine level of social and cultural
importance, much to the benefit of us all.
For Stephen, a face is a treasure. In summary, he states, "I
am a portrait painter because of my passion for people. There
is nothing more interesting to me than a new face. I search for
subjects with whom I feel a connection. My portraits convey a
fusion of my feelings for each subject with an intuitional use
of color. In my portraits, I strive to reveal the personality
of my subjects, intensifying them in a celebration of their existence."
Stephen’s purpose is to study and paint indigenous people
around the world, thereby promoting social interaction and cultural
exchange between diverse people. The core means of achieving these
goals is to utilize the individuality of the portrait the show
the universality of the human spirit. Stephen fosters working
partnerships with local schools, churches and cultural organizations
of the host country, with each trip culminating in a locally held
public exhibition of paintings of native people. Stephen has been
conducting these activities on his own, on an ad-hoc basis with
local financial support, and now intends to formalize and expand
such activity through “Faces of the World, Inc.” and
The Dream Masters.
Stephen researches the cultures and conditions of indigenous
people throughout the world. Once a preliminary decision is made,
he will travel to that area to meet with locals, attend cultural
festivals and other local activities. At least several months
prior to his departure from the United States, he will send out
introductory packages to schools, and government, art, cultural
charity, and local agencies. These materials include a letter
of introduction color prints of previous portraits, letters of
recommendation, press articles, and a resume. The thrust of these
packages is to introduce Stephen’s work as a cultural bridge
and to invite the local government, schools and cultural organizations
to participate with him in this project. Much of the work is with
students and local artists and involves transportation of large
amounts of supplies. Stephen will seek to have this additional
baggage transported to the destination gratis by the airlines.
Stephen will initially set up shop in a major city of the host
country before going into the local villages to interact with
the indigenous people. This initial period will allow Stephen
to orientate to the locale, and to begin to make direct contact
and personally introduce himself to the locals and schools as
well as local artists for advice and assistance. Introductions
to local charities will also be sought. Stephen will seek out
ways with local officials whereby together they can work to raise
money for local charitable causes.
After this period of orientation and contact, the bulk of a project’s
cycle involves sketching and painting the local people as well
as photographing and filming his adventures. During these travels,
Stephen will make every effort to meet local students, artists,
and cultural figures and organizations. Many of them will become
subjects of his work, and all will be invited to the final exhibition
of the paintings.
The culmination of the project in the host country is a public
exhibition of the paintings. Again, all of this is being documented
on film. In order to bring out as many people as possible Stephen
will publicize in the local press to announce the exhibition and
to invite everyone, especially local artists and students, and
indigenous leaders to come and participate. Stephen will visit
all of the local schools to invite the students personally, and
will help to make transportation arrangements for the children
to the exhibit. Local artists and art students will be encouraged
to attend, and especially to paint and practice their craft using
the painting supplies he will bring. In essence, the exhibit will
simultaneously serve as an informal workshop for local art students
and artists. Stephen will work with the local participants on
their craft, and talk with them about his experiences with art
to inspire them as much as to educate them. The exhibit also serves
as an auction for charity. Stephen will donate some of his works
to be auctioned, with the proceeds going to local charities, and
hopes to enlist other artists to do the same.
The project continues stateside with ongoing exhibitions of the
art. This cultural and educational aspect is intended as an effective
tool for cultural diplomacy to spread goodwill among the peoples
of the world as a cultural exchange. Such United States exhibitions,
as to their uniqueness and sense of beauty, are able to raise
the consciousness of Americans as to a celebration and presentation
of diversity by informing of indigenous traditions and practices.
These portraits are incorporated into multi-media exhibits featuring
videos, artifacts, and the work focal artists. As well, Stephen
personally, through discussions and lectures as well as the exhibits
themselves providing a forum for cultural discussion will help
Americans understand the particular culture involved.
