06/25/2019
If you are looking for something to do on Friday night, stop by 1136 Delaware St. from 5-9PM to look at some amazing art for a great cause.
Headline: VIETNAM ART TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Sub-head: Project HARTwork, in collaboration with Zephyr Real Estate Services, presents FINAL FRIDAY: featuring the work of Nhung Thi Tran
“Art is the antithesis of slavery,” says Jeff Gross, a founder of the non-profit organization Project HARTwork. “When I visited the artist colony on Goree Island off the coast of Dakar, Senegal, a place that centuries ago imprisoned slaves before they were shipped overseas, I realized that the circle could be completed by helping these artists sustain themselves, while raising money to fight modern day slavery through the sale of their art.” With this exact vision, Project HARTwork has brought human trafficking awareness and international art to the Denver community. This June 28th, the organization features art from Nhung Thi Tran, a Vietnamese artist living in Hanoi, Vietnam.
According to a 2017 study by the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Vietnam is one of the top three common nationalities for potential trafficking victims, with 3,187 Vietnamese adults and children identified over the last 9 years. However, human trafficking is frequently unreported, and activists fear the actual number is far higher.
Project HARTwork aims to bring the severity of Vietnam’s human trafficking to light as they feature Nhung Thi Tran. This artist's paintings are inspired by the beauty of Vietnam, including powerful color contrasts and tranquil landscapes. The artist is well compensated, and remaining profits fund Project HARTwork’s community outreach and awareness. Project HARTwork uses events such as gallery exhibits, the Boulder International Festival, and Denver’s Art Week as a way to sell art, start conversations, and begin educating the community about human trafficking. For example, Project HARTwork provides free postcards, featuring Colorado photographer and Project HARTwork artist Yuni Groff, for community members to send to local legislators, pushing for more regulations around trafficking education and action.
The event is hosted by Zephyr Real Estate Services, a company in the Golden Triangle Creative District, that has transformed buying, selling, and leasing services in Denver. “We were initially drawn to working with Project HARTwork because we love their beautiful art. We have always been big supporters of both the arts and fair trade initiatives, and Project HARTwork is a wonderful combination of the two. We fully support Project HARTwork's mission of "creating hope through art," and we look forward to seeing work from new artists throughout the year!”
Join Project HARTwork and Zephyr at 1136 Delaware St on Friday, June 28th, from 5-9pm. Visit
www.projecthartwork.com for more information.
