Behind the modest storefront of the Smiths Falls Mission on Beckwith Street, artist Joseph Marshal Foster has been capturing local residents on cardboard canvases. Since becoming a volunteer at the mission with his wife, Nicky, Foster has been moved by the stories of its visitors.
Among the 30-35 people who visited the mission daily, Foster filled the space with his loud and friendly voice, engaging in conversations with the people. He started painting their portraits several years ago and donates part of the proceeds to support the mission. His works, reflecting each person’s individuality, have attracted significant attention.
His first subject was “Little Kevin,” a man in his 50s who gradually opened up to Foster, just like many other mission visitors who need time to trust. Foster believes that his portraits resonate because people find it easier to engage with paintings than with real people. This allows them to see the beauty and humanity in those they might otherwise overlook. He frames his cardboard canvases in gold, symbolizing the true value of his subjects, whom society might fail to notice.
Through this project, Foster hopes to highlight the worth of those who are often unseen and to show his subjects that they are worthy of being captured on canvas.
https://www.insideottawavalley.com/news/painting-humanity-artist-captures-faces-of-the-smiths-falls-mission/article_83ca29fb-17ff-531b-b67d-c8564dd26b4d.html
