ART in capitals gallery is hosting a new and inspiring exhibition of photography which features the women in Thrive, based on photographs from Chinese photographer Bobo Lin and contributing photographer Gena Falzon, with a modern twist from Spanish artist Antonio Forgue.

Alejandra Guzman, Lisa Blunt Rochester and Ruth Kuguru are the authors of Thrive, a book which recreates the experiences of 34 everyday women living in Shanghai–women from 18 countries who came to Shanghai and redefined success for themselves.

One of the women included in the book, director & owner of ART in capitals gallery, Ana Gomez, is partnering with Thrive co-authors in a joint effort to send the Thrive’s message across the community with an ultimate goal: raise funds that will go to selected charities related with children in China. The proceeds from the photography and book sales will go to Baobei Foundation, which works to improve the lives of precious Chinese orphans who have been born with critical Neurological and Gastro-Intestinal disorders.

For over 18 months, the Thrive Team traveled to every corner of Shanghai to capture each woman profiled in the book in places that represented their story or were significant to them. Over 1,200 pictures were taken; a selection of 68 pictures are displayed in the book and 25 will be displayed at ART in capitals Gallery with the artistic touch of the Spanish artist Antonio Forgue.

The co-authors of Thrive will be signing copies of this book on Saturday April 23rd.
Please, check the Thrive web page for more information about the book and the events that will be hosted during the exhibition at ART in capitals Gallery.
http://www.publishedbygrace.com/thrive

The book

Balancing family, career, friendship and creativity is a big challenge for women in today’s high-speed world no matter where they are. But doing it all as a newcomer to the dizzying experience of twenty-first-century Shanghai, far from home? Tougher still.

Thrive tells the stories of thirty-four remarkable women who have built new lives for themselves and their families in a city where change is happening on an epic scale and at blinding speeds. These are women who have met the challenges that come with starting a new life in a new place with passion, grace, strength and imagination, working hard to turn dreams into realities.

For some, it has come in the form of creating new and lucrative businesses. For others, it has meant fining healing from a debilitating disease or dealing with the loss of a loved one. Still others have found purpose in charitable service, environmental advocacy or education. Many have had their first child in Shanghai, while others have embarked upon new career adventures after having “retired” from a first or even second career.

These women hail from eighteen countries scattered across the globe, and span a broad range of ages. Their inspirational stories are as diverse as they themselves are. But they all share the success that has come with finding themselves– and finding a true sense of home – in Shanghai.

In the end, the women at the heart of Thrive are helping redefine what’s possible for women today – not just in Shanghai or in China, but around the world.

Understand how women across the globe started their own businesses or founded charities in China, are only some examples of the stories featured in Thrive. This book provides the very personal, honest and unique perspectives of international women in a cross-cultural context for other women to take from it ideas and new ways of approaching challenges, new ways to thrive…