Press Release: Beautifying the Barrio in Juarez
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Director of Communications
303-762-6948
Littleton, CO, June 18, 2010 – In May 2010, two artists, an instructor and seven students from the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) braved a trip to Juarez, Mexico, where recent violence has driven out many other missionaries and visitors. They joined Amigos Ministries and hundreds of children from a local school to spend a week cleaning up the ruined streets and making art.
“The students from RMCAD deepened our hope and vision for this neighborhood,” said Matt Lindsey of Amigos Ministries. “Their courage to stand with us in Juarez, undaunted by the fear that so many others have surrendered to, has made a bold and electrifying statement.”
Amigos Ministries (http://amigosministries.org) helps “build relationships across the border.” One of the services they offer in Palo Chino, Juarez, includes operating a kitchen to feed several hundred meals a day to the elementary school students who participated in the art project with the group from RMCAD.
“Creativity is paramount in these dark times,” said Misty Lindsey, also of Amigos Ministries. “Those who have been handed an identity of poverty, desperation and hopelessness are trading it in for one of opportunity, life and promise.”
The work of these promising students did not end in Juarez, however. The students and artists collected some of the trash and debris left by gangs to create art for a unique exhibition at Denver Seminary’s Bridge Gallery. Beautifying the Barrio in Juarez runs July 1 through August 31, in conjunction with Denver’s Inaugural Biennial. The exhibition includes photographs, art created by the children in Juarez and art created by the students and artists from RMCAD. An opening is scheduled for Thursday, July 1st from 4-8pm at the Bridge Gallery, located in the Simpson Leadership Building on Denver Seminary’s Campus, 6399 S Santa Fe Dr in Littleton.
Visitors who desire more information or who would like the opportunity to acquire any of the artwork to support Amigos Ministries are encouraged to visit www.mmlindsey.com to view the art and a video and to purchase “Amigos Dollars” which can be used to support the ministry and purchase art from the exhibition.
Artists exhibiting work in the Beautifying the Barrio in Juarez exhibit include Sandy Ceas, curator for Bridge Gallery and teacher at RMCAD; Nikki Pike, instructor at RMCAD; Isaac Karner, artist; seven students from RMCAD; and several elementary aged children from Juarez. Additional information about the exhibit can also be found on Denver Seminary’s website at www.denverseminary.edu/bridge-gallery/.
About Denver Seminary - Denver Seminary prepares men and women to engage the needs of the world through the redemptive power of the gospel and the life changing truth of Scripture. Founded in 1950, Denver Seminary is an interdenominational, evangelical graduate seminary serving men and women from around the world. In its 60 year history, the seminary has gained the reputation as one of the top 20 schools in size among accredited, graduate-level seminaries in the U.S. and Canada and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Currently, nearly 1000 students are enrolled in the seminary’s Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Ministry degree programs. For more information about Denver Seminary, please visit www.denverseminary.edu.
<end>
