Northwestern Mutual Foundation Commissions Artwork Inspired by Their Grantees
By Ariella Phillips
Contributor
December 26, 2018 | Read Time: 3 minutes
More than two dozen original pieces of art grace the lobby of Northwestern Mutual’s headquarters in Milwaukee. That wouldn’t be unusual, except that the artworks represent nonprofits its foundation has worked with over the years.
For the Northwestern Mutual Foundation’s 25th anniversary, the organization matched 25 of its grantees with Wisconsin-tied artists to create works inspired by the organizations. The foundation wanted to find a way to celebrate its work over the years and to shine a spotlight on the nonprofits.
“This concept of a giving gallery came up — using art in a way that would highlight our work through the work of our nonprofit partners,” says Lynn Heimbruch, assistant director of strategic philanthropy. The gallery is open to the public.
Some artists have personal connections to the charities. Visual artist Mutópe Johnson participated in activities with the Boys & Girls Clubs as a child. His painting depicts two children, a brother and a sister, standing at a crosswalk as a police officer ensures their safe passage.
“We really tasked each artist to respond on a personal level,” says Logan Bazar, who served as the curator and creative director of the project. He explains the pieces are meant to be an entryway into the nonprofit, not a brochure.
Healthy Relationships
Another standout pairing was with the Sojourner Family Peace Center. Amy and Jonathan Gelfman, the artists chosen to paint a portrait inspired by the domestic-violence prevention organization, are a married couple.
“Healthy relationships require both sets of energy; it requires two people living in harmony together,” says Carmen Pitre, president of the organization. “From the moment I met Jonathan and Amy, I witnessed that.”
Together, the artists and the nonprofit’s leaders began brainstorming how to portray the difficult, yet inspiring issues Sojourner Family Peace Center deals with on a daily basis.
The finished painting features three panels: a husband’s perspective, a wife’s perspective, and mutual agreement meeting in the middle.
“It’s a smaller example of what we want in all of our relationships around the world,” Pitre says. “Moving towards peace, moving towards light, moving towards healing.”
Since meeting Pitre, the Gelfmans have had her and a colleague over for Shabbat dinner at their home. Amy has also started volunteering with Sojourner, leading a healing-arts program for kids.
Over the years, the Northwestern Mutual Foundation has given Sojourner general operating support for its community domestic-abuse advocacy program.
“I often think about nonprofits as an organism,” Pitre says. “There’s vital organs like your heart, your liver, your lungs, and in order to function, you have to have support and I think Northwestern has always understood that.”
The painting will eventually hang in the lobby of Sojourner. Pitre hopes it stands as a reminder of why the foundation does what it does: work to improve the quality of life for thousands of Milwaukee residents.
