Covey Center Art Exhibit with Elizabeth Thayer
Written by Megan Carson
Don’t miss out on an extraordinary opportunity to meet Elizabeth Thayer, the incredible portrait artist behind the paintings done of our friends seeking refuge. She has her work currently on display at the Covey Center in Provo, Utah (on Center Street).
THIS FRIDAY, August 3rd from 6-9pm, Liz will be greeting exhibit-goers at a reception for her exhibit. You won’t want to miss this exhibit - it’s soul-stirring and powerful! And, to meet Liz in person, to hear her experiences behind the paintings makes them really come to life.
I had the privilege of meeting Liz this week, as she walked with me through the stories of the courageous subjects of her paintings. In an intimate setting like that, these beautiful people became so much more than refugees. It was clear that she was telling me about her friends.
You also don’t want to miss an interview she had with Julie Rose on BYU Radio as they walked around the exhibit together! Liz knows the people and their stories, and her personal connections with them bring them as much to life as her paintbrush.
Official Statement on the Detention of Refugees and Ongoing Community Violence
With another death in Minnesota and continued violence toward individuals and groups standing up for their communities, we acknowledge the profound fear and uncertainty people are feeling--not just locally, but across the country.
On top of this, there are reports that refugees invited and admitted to our country through the U.S. Refugee Admission Program are now being detained, meaning that our new friends and neighbors feel that fear most acutely.
Refugees have already fled violence and persecution once. They came here legally, seeking safety. In moments like these, we reaffirm our commitment to building communities where refugees and immigrants can live without fear. Where they can go to work, send their children to school, and build lives of dignity and belonging.
We call for due process, accountability, and humanity in all immigration enforcement operations. We call upon our leaders to demand the demilitarization of our neighborhoods and cities. And we call on all of us to continue the work of welcoming and protecting those who have been forcibly displaced from their homes.