Our Hope for Children

We all have hopes for our children - hope is a universal constant that unites us all, regardless of age, economic circumstances, sexual orientation, and ethnic or religious background. To create Our Hope for Children, artists John Beebe (photographer) and Motion (spoken word poet) asked 45 people about their hopes for children and then fused participants’ words and portraits to create a series of “poetic portraits.” The resulting art reflects the hopes of a diverse community for the generation to come. The exhibit illustrates a community’s hopes and dreams for children and encourages both participants and viewers to share in the responsibility of keeping children safe.

Produced by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), “Our Hope for Children” is a public art installation debuted at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche 2011 on October 1, the first day of a month dedicated to raising awareness of issues that affect children and youth, Child Abuse Prevention Month. OACAS works with Ontario’s Children’s Aid Societies to raise awareness of issues affecting children and youth and encourage everyone to get involved in protecting children and youth and keeping them safe.

Our Hope for Children participants included community activists, leaders in business, artists, children and youth. Many participants have experience with child welfare as workers, foster parents, volunteers, advocates and youth in care. OACAS is pleased to have the participation of Francis D’Souza, evening news anchor of CityTV News; Niru Kumar, board member of the Toronto Children’s Aid Society; Mike Botterill, former football player of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; and Mark Strong, on-air host of the Toronto Argonauts and Raptors. You are invited to share your hopes for children on twitter @our_children. 

Read more about:
The Artists – John Beebe and Motion
Share your hopes for children on twitter - @our_children
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche

Photos and video of the debut art installation at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche:
Click here to see photos. Click here to see video, courtesy Motion Live and Mark Strong/Strizzy.com.

John Beebe

John Beebe is an internationally exhibited photographer who creates intimate and authentic portraits that capture the bracing humanity of extraordinary individuals who would describe themselves as “regular people.”  His subjects range from A-list celebrities,  politicians, and business people to teachers, cowboys and people living on the street. www.johnbeebe.ca

Motion

“Moving the soul like she rocks the mic, Motion is a true testament to the power of words." – The Toronto Star

Motion is an award-winning spoken word artist, whose multi-dimensional poetiks fuses the worlds of word, sound and drama. She is the author of two collections, Motion In Poetry, and her latest release 40 Dayz. Lauded by Now Magazine as a "multi-talented, truthful artist," Motion stretches definition with her live, kinetic brand of flow. log on! www.motionlive.com