A prominent local artist has paid tribute to people who work behind the scenes to save lives during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with a series of portraits he’s created called “The Faces of JPS.”
It took Victor Manuel, who works under the name “Uno,” two months to create paintings of 16 soulful faces etched with weariness, heartache and concern. The portraits, which were painted referencing photographs of actual JPS Health Network frontline healthcare workers, were donated to the JPS Foundation Thursday.
“I’m very happy and honored that I had the opportunity to do this project,” Manuel said. “I think what these people have done to take care of the community is amazing and I wanted to do my part to help people remember it forever.”
Manuel said the idea for the project was brought to him by a fellow Fort Worth artist, Leland Clemons who he has collaborated with on other projects.
“It was a challenge to do these people justice and complete them in just two months,” Uno said. “But I love challenges. Challenges motivate me.”
"This is such a wonderful reflection of our organization.”
Clemons said he was inspired to make some sort of artistic statement to commemorate the times back in June and July when COVID numbers started to spike in the Fort Worth area. He said he was extremely moved thinking of the sacrifice JPS doctors, nurses, techs and others were making to save lives and care for the ill.
“Back then we heard the term ‘essential workers’ a lot and that really made me think,” Clemons said. “These people are putting their lives at risk every day to help others. I think this ought to really make us reprioritize who we value in our community Is it these essential workers -- or entertainers?”
Clemons said he immediately knew Uno was the artist for the job, and the final product confirms his original conclusion. He said he is amazed by the way Manuel captured the emotion of the healthcare workers he painted, showing their human fragility but also their confidence and strength.
JPS President and CEO Robert Earley agreed.
“These are so powerful,” Earley said as he was shown the works by Manuel and Clemons. “You’ve definitely captured us. This is wonderful, wonderful work.”
J. R. Labbe, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs and Development, said the portraits will initially be displayed inside of the health network in places the people who were featured and their colleagues can see them. Later, they’ll be shown around the community where the public can enjoy them before making their way back to JPS where a permanent home for them will be found.
“I love these paintings because they show us how we are,” Labbe said. “We’re not red carpet-ready at JPS. We look like real people, just like our patients. This is such a wonderful reflection of our organization.”
Uno’s work can be seen around Fort Worth, most prominently in a 2,200-square-foot mural he recently completed on the Lancaster Bridge over the Trinity River. A Fort Worth resident since 1991 whose children were born at JPS, Manuel said he originally met Clemons while he was working on that project which, ultimately, led to the idea for The Faces of JPS.