“Visions of Home Lands” Art Exhibition to Benefit Hearts & Homes for Refugees

Kathy Degyansky
White Plains Public Library
(914) 422-1488
kdegyansky@whiteplainslibrary.org

Hearts & Homes for Refugees Media Contact:
Melanie Appelbaum: 917-570-2839
doubleeagle914@gmail.com

“Visions of Home Lands” Art Exhibition to Benefit
Hearts & Homes for Refugees

White Plains, New York – March 8, 2022: A collection of original paintings, entitled “Visions of Home Lands,” by local artist Lori Kapner Hosp will be on exhibition at the White Plains Public Library’s Museum Gallery from April 3rd through May 27th, 2022.

Proceeds from the sale of paintings will go to Westchester-based Hearts & Homes for Refugees (www.HeartsandHomesforRefugees.org), an organization that welcomes, assists, and advocates for refugee families in the region. Hosp is a board member of Hearts & Homes.

“My paintings are an homage to the bravery, kindness, and exuberance of our new neighbors who bring so much to our communities. Each piece in the ‘Visions of Home Lands’ collection offers a narrative about the people, traditions or culture of the country it represents, and celebrates the beauty and richness of the worlds from which many of us come,” Hosp explains. (More information about Hosp and her artwork is available at www.LoriKapnerHosp.com.)

An opening reception will be held at the White Plains Public Library on Sunday, April 3rd, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Library’s Museum Gallery. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public.

“White Plains is a welcoming community and we are excited to host the exhibition celebrating the perseverance and contributions of our new neighbors and the great work being done by Hearts and Home,” said White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach.

Hosp began painting for personal enjoyment but in recent years undertook new works with a specific purpose: to assist refugees and asylees in our communities to become self-sufficient in their new home land. Both the refugee families and the dedicated volunteers whom she has met, through her work as a volunteer and board member of Hearts & Homes for Refugees, inspired and informed this work.

Hosp’s style is a mix of traditional and contemporary to reflect the subject of each piece and its place of origin: Malaysian wau bulan kites, Vietnamese basket boats, Senegalese pirogues, Iranian salt mountains, portraits of people from Afghanistan, Peru, Japan, Iraq, Jamaica…and more.

“We are absolutely blown away by Lori’s generosity and talent as seen in these beautiful works of art that celebrate the countries and cultures our new neighbors so bravely left behind to rebuild their lives,” said Kathie O’Callaghan, Founder and President of Hearts & Homes for Refugees. “As we resettle refugee families and look once again toward a more welcoming tone in our country, we are thrilled to give people the opportunity to support our work in this unique way.”

Hosp’s previous series entitled “Glimpses of the Places They Called Home” was the focus of a successful online auction in 2020 to raise funds for refugees in our region who were hard hit by the pandemic. Her art has been included in exhibitions at Pelham Art Center in Pelham, NY and in the Beaux Arts Exhibition in Dobbs Ferry, NY.

About White Plains Public Library: The White Plains Public Library is a dynamic, civic resource. Its mission is to enable all members of our community to engage in lifelong learning, find inspiration and build citizenship by providing: free and open access to recorded knowledge, personal guidance in its use, and diverse opportunities for cultural exchange and exploration of ideas.

About Hearts & Homes for Refugees: Hearts & Homes for Refugees is a nonprofit volunteer-driven organization that works with the U.S. Department of State-designated agencies to welcome refugees. Hearts & Homes inspires, educates and equips others to resettle, assist and advocate for refugees. This growing network of neighbors, community organizations, faith, student and civic groups offers safe and inclusive communities to our refugee neighbors and empowers them to rebuild their lives with hope and dignity. Follow Hearts & Homes for Refugees on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or sign-up for their newsletter.

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