'Souls Shot' Portrait Project On Exhibit In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — An exhibition memorializing lives lost or tragically altered by gun violence is on display through the end of the month at the Doylestown Presbyterian Church on East Court Street.

The "Souls Shot Portrait Project" is open from 12 to 4 p.m. on Sunday and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. There is no admission fee.

The mission of the project, begun in 2016 in Philadelphia, is to humanize and memorialize the lives lost to gun violence.

To engage participants in the project, a call went out to artists and an invitation went out to families and friends of victims of gun violence. The artists were randomly paired with a family member or friend of the victim. The artists met with them and were able to see photos, videos, mementos, and hear stories about the lives of the victims.

In the words of Anna Kocher, artist and board member, the Souls Shot Portrait Project exhibit "while arresting, is not confrontational. It's invitational. Rather than confronting the viewer with facts and opinions, it invites the viewer into the lives of the individuals who have been tragically lost to gun violence.

"Thanks to the courageous and gracious initiation of families into their own stories of loss and heartache, the artists have the privilege of inviting the viewer into a more sincere understanding of another's lived experience, and, ultimately, a state of deeper empathy," continued Kocher. "This is where change can begin to occur."

The exhibition has traveled extensively to various host venues including Philadelphia City Hall and the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg.