Kelli Saunders and Professor Paul Adams, Visual Arts
On January 19th, 2008 I left for Ghana, Africa. I spent three weeks at the Hands of Mercy orphanage. During my time there I played, taught, loved, and photographed the children. There were around 20 kids ranging from the age of 2 to about 14. They are wonderful. They’re just like any other child I’ve ever known. They can be happy, sad, playful, goofy, thoughtful, curious, mean. The best part of my day was when I got to be with them. Despite the circumstances they came from they were happy. Most came from the street and had been abused and neglected. I strove to capture their beauty and their lives.
After my time at that orphanage was over I traveled across the country to a baby orphanage. The children there were all under the age of 5 and most were half-orphans. Many of their mothers had passed away and they were given to the orphanage to care for until their families could care for them again. My time there was short, but I loved my hours holding, feeding, and nurturing those babies. Some of my favorite photographs came from that orphanage.
In September I printed and framed 21 18×24 pictures of the African orphans. They immediately went up in a show at BYU in the Harris Fine Arts Center on the 4th floor in the west hallway. They stayed there for two weeks during which time I received positive feedback in several different ways. One of my mail goals was to inspire people to see the world in a new way; to change; to help. I think by reading the comments of others is the best way to convey how I was able to do this.
One girl that contacted me wrote the following email, “I am convinced that the work in which you are participating is work that will really change this world for the better…Thank you, thank you so much for being an inspiration to me and to others. We each can help combat the inhumanities of poverty and aloneness in our individual ways, just as you and Hands of Mercy have done. Not only does this particular collection inspire us to sponsor the children, but it also influenced me to look internally. As I peered into each face, I was completely overwhelmed at the beauty and value of each child. I became filled with love for each one. I also became very conscious of the prejudice that exists in our own society towards those of different skin colors. Although I have never personally sought to differentiate myself from those with different racial backgrounds, I realized that there is still so much to be done in the world to overcome this barrier. That day I noticed I went out of my way to be friendly to all those around me, especially to those of a different race. I wanted them to know that I thought they were beautiful and very valued here. So thank you, I guess, for helping me see what I can do to better my own world around me.”
Thanks to Google alerts (an online program that emails me when people use my name or photography business name online) I discovered a blog post dedicated to my show. Here are some of the things she wrote, “Then…I walked past an amazingly inspiring photography exhibit in the hall of the HFAC. The photographer, Kelli Saunders, had taken portraits all in black and white, her subjects being the children of the Hands of Mercy Orphanage in Ghana. I read her artist statement and almost got emotional. Suddenly, I realized how much art can be a way of communication and how it really can benefit people, because as I read her statement, I was the beneficiary rather than the artist. I want to go help underprivileged people…I have so many resources at my fingertips, but what will I use them for? I feel so selfish using my talents solely for my own pleasure, when so many have so little in their lives. I thought of my friend Amy, who’s going to Ghana on a research semester next summer, and ideas started coming to my head about going with her, doing some type of research that would help someone. This was, mind you, before I realized that Kelli’s photos were actually taken in Ghana. Which was cool…As I walked out of the HFAC, I started noticing things in different ways. There is SO much to learn, so much to accomplish in this life, so why on earth am I EVER lazy?!! Mmmmm. There is much to be done.”
I also held an opening reception for my show. Dozens of my friends, family, and several strangers came to support the show. I had a comment book left out for the duration of the show and I’d like to share a few of the comments left from strangers passing by. “This is one of the most beautiful and inspiring exhibits I have ever seen. Thanks you so much for sharing.” “This is the kind of work our world need now. This kind of work changes our society. I felt something deep within me stirring as I looked into the eyes of these beautiful children. Keep doing what you’re doing!” “Your art brought both tears to my eyes and warmth into my heart. Thank you for sharing your love with us. God is aware of these children, as you have graciously reminded us.” “Moving. Thank you so much for your work. I’ve felt several layers of hardness melt off my heart.” “You stole my heart with Charity…I’m moving to Kenya to do compassionate service, & as I walked by your display I was caught and torn back to look at the picture of the child with myself reflected in the glass. Thank you for your art-inspiration-insight.”
At the end of the show I decided to sell the pictures and use the proceeds to sponsor some of the children at Hands of Mercy. I’m also currently working on going through and editing the thousands of pictures so I can make nice photo albums for the orphanages. I already sent many digital pictures to the orphanage founder and they have been able to use them on their website in several different ways (http://www.handsmercy.com/). I’ve also dedicated several blog posts on my own blog (kellinicolephoto.blogspot.com) and have had several people email me after seeing the pictures from doing google searches for those orphanages. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve.