Lexington, KY - An Emily Dickinson poem begins, "Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul." Hope is an important ingredient in the human story. Difficulties can appear insurmountable, and sometimes a person's very survival is at risk without it. As America's economic woes have continued, problems like unemployment and homelessness have begun to reach epidemic proportions, and hope has been in short supply for many.
Fortunately, Lexington has the Hope Center located at 309 West Loudon Ave., making it possible for people to get real help with basic needs and also offering many services through an emergency shelter, separate women's and men's recovery centers and the One Parent Scholar House for at-risk families, all specializing in services such as food and shelter, addiction counseling, medical and mental health clinics, social services and job placement.
The Hope Center's mission is to get at the root causes of homelessness like addiction and mental health issues and to provide a place where these matters can be addressed, a new life plan created and lives rebuilt. It's not easy, and it takes the involvement of many people in the way of staff, volunteers, community partners and donors.
Such dedication has resulted in Lexington's Hope Center becoming a model facility that is respected and recommended throughout the region.
Ten years ago, Cathy Jacobs paid a visit to the Hope Center and was struck by how many men were sleeping on the floor because of serious overcrowding. At home, she couldn't sleep that night. She and her husband, Don Jacobs, decided they had to help and began to plan how they could make a difference. With land generously donated by LexMark, the Jacobses have built a much-needed men's dormitory to house an additional 155 men and a just-completed new cafeteria space that will feed, at full capacity, as many as 200 people at one time three meals a day. If necessary, there can be two shifts per meal and as many as 1,200 meals can be served.
The Hope Center relies partly on donations of funds and food from sources like God's Pantry, local restaurants and individuals to stretch the food budget. The cafeteria at this time is just being completed, kitchen equipment is being installed and tables are on order. It will soon be filled with hungry people enjoying a good meal, but another important addition to the new building is the art on the walls.
When Cathy Jacobs was helping to design the cafeteria, she knew she wanted it to be a bright, cheerful, uplifting space. Jacobs turned to local artist and educator Georgia Henkel to come up with a program to involve many of the clients who utilize the Hope Center's many programs in the creation of art for the long walls of the new cafeteria, along with children from the East Seventh Street Center and fourth-graders from Sayre School who were studying homelessness. Participants made several drawings and paintings. Elements from these works were chosen and made into larger wooden shapes and then cut into puzzle pieces. The separate, smaller pieces were then given to participants to decorate with their own touches to depict their individual message, story or style. Rejoined, the pieces are bright, colorful pieces of art in a variety of shapes such as flowers, a figure of a man, a monster and a house with smoke coming from the chimney - each a unique design. One piece in particular, a phoenix rising from the ashes, is particularly representative of the emotions that went into the artwork. In looking at the pieces closely, the viewer sees that each puzzle piece has a story to tell. One gentleman who painted a highway on his puzzle piece explained it was "the road to recovery."
"I believe in the healing power of art, and we got to see that firsthand with this project," explained Jacobs. "The stories were amazing and touching. Many of the Hope Center participants who contributed to these beautiful pieces of art told me how proud they were to be a part of this. Many participants told me they felt like they were contributing to the building and hoped to be an inspiration for others. We love every piece," Jacobs said.
Henkel added, "This program has been profoundly meaningful. It was able to reach people who were in a really dark place. Many people helped and volunteered, and it has affected all of us. I hope they all continue to create, because I think we all saw how healing it can be and how much better it can make you feel."
Staff members at the Hope Center often recognize the artistic talents of their clients. Carrie Thayer, director of development for the Hope Center, included an image of a painting done by Andrew Lumpkin, a former client and now an employee of the center, in the organization's newsletter. The artwork represents two roads, one leading to addiction and one to recovery. This was seen by Patricia Wheatley, marketing specialist with Central Bank, an institution with a long history of support for the visual arts.
"I saw the piece in the newsletter and was so intrigued by how the artist illustrated his journey," Wheatley explained. In addition to marketing, Wheatley manages the John G. Irvin gallery space within Central Bank, an area set aside to feature local artists' work. Wheatley suggested the bank and the Hope Center work together to mount an exhibition. Thayer loved the idea and let all the divisions of the Hope Center know. The artistically inclined immediately began to sign up.
The exhibition will feature paintings, drawings, sculpture and poetry. The participating artists describe the experience of preparing art for the show as good lessons in patience, focus and confidence and as something very uplifting for them at a tough point in their lives. The work is being framed and prepared to exhibit through a generous donation from Ty Farley of Frame Outlet on Southland Drive in Lexington.
Central Bank is hosting an artists' reception on Feb. 17 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to open the show, which will run from Feb. 17 through March 9. Central Bank is located at 300 W. Vine St. The reception will be on the fifth floor in the executive area, and the art will be displayed on the second and third floors in the John G. Irvin Gallery.
"We are so excited to show this work and to recognize these artists' talents, as well as their recovery. We want to encourage them and celebrate them," Wheatley said.
For more information on the art reception for the Hope Center at the John G. Irvin Gallery in the Central Bank, contact Patricia Wheatley at Central Bank at (859)253-6346. For more information on the Hope Center, contact Carrie Thayer at (859)225-4673, ext. 107 or check the website at hopectr.org.