“PORTRAITS OF IMMIGRANTS”: Works by former CBS News correspondent Betsy Ashton are on view at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, through Easter.

Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, now presents works by Betsy Ashton in “Portraits of Immigrants: Unknown Faces, Untold Stories,” on view through Easter, March 31.

Ashton, a former correspondent for CBS, supported a studio by painting commissioned oil portraits for the rich and accomplished for over 15 years. But she said that the maligning of immigrants and refugees that took place during and since the 2016 election compelled her instead to seek out, paint, and tell the stories of the immigrants that she saw who were not a threat to America, but an asset.

When asked about her inspiration for the project, Ashton said, “Immigrants from everywhere are all around me in New York City; the subway alone captures every gene pool on the planet. Using journalism skills honed in my prior career as a CBS News correspondent, plus my talents as a visual artist, I interviewed and painted people from a variety of countries and cultures who were not born here but chose to come to this country, or were brought here as children, seeking safety or freedom or opportunity or all of the above.”

She continued, “The immigrants I see work hard — extremely hard — to support their families here and, in some cases, also abroad. I want the viewing public to better understand who these people are, what they have sacrificed to come here, what living here means to them, and what contributions they have made to their adopted country. I believe that the viewers will discover kindred spirits who are in their hearts as American as they are.”

The exhibit is open most days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit portraitsofimmigrants.com.