‘Souls Shot Portrait Project’ At Bucks Honors Lives Lost To Gun Violence

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — From a cherubic child to a middle-aged veteran and more, their faces and stories are memorialized in the "Souls Shot Portrait Project," an exhibition on display through September 17 at Bucks County Community College's Gallery at Lower Bucks Campus in Bristol.

The project, on display in Bucks County for the first time, pairs fine artists with families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, creating deeply personal portraits that honor
the unique lives of the victims.

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Speakers at the August 28 opening reception included Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan, Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler, and several people who shared stories about loved ones taken too soon.

The gallery, which is free and open to the public, is located at the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks in Bristol.

Visitors to the Gallery at Lower Bucks Campus examine an interactive display that tells the story of a young man lost to gun violence as part of the "Souls Shot Portrait Project" on display through September 17. The project pairs fine artists with families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, creating deeply personal portraits that honor the unique lives of the victims. The gallery, which is free and open to the public, is located at Bucks County Community College's Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus in Bristol. (Mel Evans/Bucks County Community College)

Youth Commissioner of Philadelphia Makayla Myers listens to speakers at the opening reception for the "Souls Shot Portrait Project" at Bucks County Community College's Gallery at Lower Bucks Campus. Myers, 23, told the dozens in attendance about the shooting deaths of her boyfriend, best friend, and two other loved ones, several of whom are memorialized in the exhibition that runs through Sept. 17. (Mel Evans/Bucks County Community College)

Walter Mims (foreground), executive director of Neighborhood First, awaits his turn to speak at the opening reception for the "Souls Shot Portrait Project" at Bucks County Community College's Gallery at the Lower Bucks Campus. Mims runs the Bristol-based nonprofit aimed at preventing gun violence by providing mentoring, monitoring, and guidance to youth. The portraits, honoring those lost to or affected by gun violence, are on display through September 17 at the College's Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks. (Mel Evans/Bucks County Community College)

Bucks County Sheriff Danny Ceisler (left) and District Attorney Joe Khan (right) greet Bucks County Community College President & CEO Patrick M. Jones (middle) at the opening reception for the "Souls Shot Portrait Project" at the Gene and Marlene Epstein Campus at Lower Bucks. The project pairs fine artists with families who have lost loved ones to gun violence, creating deeply personal portraits that honor the unique lives of the victims. (Mel Evans/Bucks County Community College)