Over twenty years ago, when AWTT artist Robert Shetterly began this portrait project to help himself cope with the United States’ bombing of Iraq, he didn’t anticipate the number of portraits that would follow, nor where they would take him. In the beginning, a few local schools and churches—curious about his project—invited him to talk about who he was painting and to bring portraits with him. Today, as the gallery grows to 280 portraits, Shetterly maintains a busy schedule.  In the past several months, he has traveled to exhibits in New York, Oregon, Florida, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and Virginia, to name a few. But between trips, he still likes to visit area schools and stay in touch with nearby communities.

While at home in Brooksville, Maine, this spring, Shetterly spent a day with students at the neighboring K-8 Penobscot Community School, helping them to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of their school library. He also ferried out to an island school—the North Haven Community School—again visiting classrooms from kindergarten through eighth grade. These are tiny but spirited schools; no group is too small or too inconsequential. When enthusiastically recapping these visits with his staff, Shetterly marvels at the energy, intelligence, and creativity of the students—as if each school visit was his first.

In mid-April, Shetterly received a visit from students, parents and a teacher from the Monarch Learning Academy in Orlando, Florida, accompanied by their Director, Marguerite McNeill. The Academy had hosted an AWTT exhibit, including a visit from Shetterly, in August 2024.  Inspired by AWTT portrait subject and environmentalist Dianna Cohen, the students have launched a campaign in their community to reduce the use of plastics. They wanted to bring their message back to Brooksville, to thank Shetterly for his earlier inspirational visit, and to see his studio. Their first plan to visit Shetterly in Maine was interrupted by a hurricane, but this three-day visit came off without a hitch. Folks on the Blue Hill peninsula who attended the students’ talk were quite impressed with the fifth graders’ knowledge and organizational know-how. And the students absorbed every detail of Shetterly’s studio and his work in progress, peppering him with insightful questions.

Then, on May 4, Shetterly unveiled his portrait of young Maine activist and writer Rivera Sun at the nearby Waldorf Independent school, the Bay School. The hall was filled, including many familiar faces. Portrait subject Sherri Mitchell Weh’na Ha’mu Kwasset offered a heart-felt tribute to Sun, her long-time friend and co-activist; the two began working together many years ago, co-hosting a radio show, Love (and Revolution) Radio. A handful of Bay School students acted out a short skit—a folktale from Rivera’s novel The Adventures of Alaren. Singer-songwriter, Aro Veno, showed up from Vermont to perform a song inspired by Sun’s first book, The Dandelion Insurrection. Rivera riveted the audience with a fiery speech—concluding with her classic message: “Nothing can stop us. It is as inevitable as dandelions in the spring. So, remember your courage, remember your love, and, as we say in The Dandelion Insurrection, remember to be kind, be connected, and be unafraid.” As Shetterly often says, it doesn’t get better than this.

Although bringing the portraits and their stories to far-flung places—engaging more people and expanding the project’s impact—has become a big part of AWTT”s evolving mission, there’s still no place like home.