This is an attempt to challenge the stigma surrounding mental health by celebrating the many faces and stories of it. This is an endeavor rooted in the hope of connecting people through the portraits of others, as a way to “bridge the gap” between you and them. This is a brave ask, that you might be able to be honest, and identify or empathize with someone else’s experiences…because you in fact, have been in the same shoes at some point or have thought the same thoughts.
Each NFT (non-fungible token) is a unique collage of 20 distinct portraits, 20 different people, highlighting the intimate connections between us all, often rooted in our silenced experiences and vulnerabilities with mental health. This is an ongoing 12-month project with 6 NFTs releasing each month, beginning 04-01-2022. The final 2 months will drop 20 exclusive NFTs combining subjects across the entire project/year. Each person was asked a set of questions and their responses have been anonymously assigned to each piece, giving each work an individualized focus forever connecting the portraits and the stories behind them. The NFTs will be sold through a collection on OpenSea found here. The goal is to use art to connect us, as well as to amplify the work of TWLOHA - to present hope.
80 one-of-a-kind pieces, featuring 200 different people, across 10 months of photoshoots, creating a digital art collection meant to combat the stigma surrounding mental health by celebrating the many different faces of it, encouraging individuals to seek professional help, and raising funds in perpetuity for an organization that does incredible work within this ongoing and much needed conversation in the space.
20% of all sales from this digital collection are donated to To Write Love On Her Arms. TWLOHA is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope & finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury & suicide. Joe Ward Photography’s connection to the nonprofit can be found here. Every first collector of these pieces will additionally receive a complimentary physical canvas print of their art, with responses from the descriptions hand-written on the back, along with a the artist’s signature.
If you are interested in participating in this project, it would mean the world to me, and so many others around the world. Please use the scheduler here to book your free photoshoot.
photoshoots on July 10th will be in phoenix, arizona.