Nancy Lewis Shell

Nancy, an incest, rape, and domestic abuse survivor with a physical disability, celebrates still being alive through her art. Nancy’s work centers on the quest for freedom and equality and also captures sweet, brief, and pivotal moments in time. She works in a variety of disciplines and mediums including painting, photography, quilting, and written and spoken word. While striving to be an artist, Nancy has to assume many roles: as daughter of a disabled mom, mother of a disabled child, wife of an abusive husband, friend, teacher, and mentor. In all of these roles, Nancy has had to fight injustice against her gender and multiple identities because she believes that “art is a sacred quest to give voice to that scream that has no sound.”

Nancy believes that personal freedoms and liberties are in jeopardy of being lost every day and will implement, The Freedom Quilt. This art for social change project will engage members of the community to write their thoughts on freedom by offering five thought provoking questions, utilizing a 5 inch muslin square and a permanent marker as a tool. The quilting classes and workshops will be offered on site/off site from the Johnson House Historic Site and the community will be taught the useful sewing skills it needs to turn squares into a quilt.

Support for the creation of new paintings for a group exhibition curated by Julie Courtney at the Abington Art Center, Spring, 2002.

Materials for solo exhibition of paintings at Vox Populi Gallery, Philadelphia in February 2000.