Elmhurst College student uses art to increase awareness for food bank

Danielle Dobies has given the term “starving artist” a whole new meaning.

The 21-year-old Elmhurst College student has worked side-by-side with volunteers and clients at the Northern Illinois Food Bank and now has transferred those experiences to canvas paintings. The junior from Aurora, Ohio, says she hopes her art can show those who view it who the food bank is really helping out.

Her project, “Faces of Sustenance,” began in 2009 when she applied for the Thing 1 2 3 Foundation Fellowship offered by the college and food bank. The application was open to students of all majors and asked participants to develop creative ways to bring relief from hunger to families in northern Illinois.

On a whim, Dobies applied, figuring it would be a way to incorporate her artwork in a community service project. She proposed creating oil paintings that could be used as advertisements for the food bank.

She wasn't sure what the creators of the fellowship were looking for since it was the first year it was offered at the college. She was just hoping they would be open-minded and willing to think outside the box.

Her idea even shocked Elmhurst College professor John Pitman Weber, who wrote a letter of recommendation for her fellowship application. He knew Dobies was a motivated student, but never expected someone to create such a project.

Even those evaluating the applications didn't imagine a large art project would be proposed, said Jarrod Daab, senior development officer at the food bank. He said he expected to see applicants describe projects about social service logistics involving the organization's warehouse and distribution of food.

But Daab liked the uniqueness of the idea and Dobies was awarded the fellowship.

She began her project by volunteering at mobile food pantries and soup kitchens in January and February of 2010 to understand the mission of the food bank and the people who are involved with it.

Feeling comfortable with the organization, she then took photographs of her paintings' subjects to create her drawings. She also spoke with her subjects casually to make sure their personalities would come through in her artwork.

One of her favorite paintings is of a black woman in her 90s wearing a large hat. The woman told her life story to Dobies for the project, so she made a point to capture that open and kind personality in the painting.

Though the artwork will be a nice boost to her portfolio, Dobies said her sole intention always has been helping the food bank.

“I don't think I would be happy just doing my art for myself,” she said. “I hope (the food bank) gets some sort of response. It would make me feel really great if that happened.”

And for that reason she's going to make sure that at her first solo gallery showing, the night is focused on the food bank's initiatives rather than on her own accomplishments.

She said when she first started the project, she didn't realize how prevalent the issue of hunger is in area communities. It never crossed her mind that people from different walks of life could all be using the food bank.

“I want the night to be about these portraits, and I think it's up to me to make it that way,” she said. “I can make that night centered around the food bank.”

Her art exhibition will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30, in the Founders Lounge of the Frick Center at Elmhurst College. The event is free and open to the public.

<p><b>“Faces of Sustenance” art display</b></p>

<p>When: 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 30</p>

<p>Where: Frick Center at Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst</p>

<p>Cost: Free</p>

<p>Info: (630) 617-3390</p>