If you’re looking for a diversion from your regular Sunday stroll as you’re out and about this weekend, the Burlington Artscape Leaves of Life art sale fundraiser is running through the month of August. There will be public outdoor showings of completed artworks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 8, 15, and 22 at Grace United Church, 2111 Walkers Line.
The fundraiser supports program funding and equipment purchases at Joseph Brant Hospital. It features a collection of 51 four-foot-tall aluminum leaf canvases hand-painted by a selection of local artists in as many styles as there are contributors, from realist to abstract, with a focus on the artists’ connections to the natural setting and community spirit of Burlington.
Ranging from established figures in the Burlington art community to recent graduates and current students of OCADU and Seneca College, all participants are working to translate their unique connections to Burlington to the canvas in pursuit of the same common goal: supporting and honouring the healthcare workers that continue to demonstrate true heroism through the pandemic.
“There are some who are cancer survivors and paint as personal healing or with thanks for the excellent care they received through Joseph Brant Hospital,” says event committee chair Jodi Harrison. “We have artists who are grateful for the care of family members in hospital, others painted for mental health during COVID. Many just want to give back to the community.”
Harrison, a contributor herself, is a firm believer in the liberating and transformative power of self-expression through art. “One artist is autistic and could not speak until the age of 4, but learned language through art and now educates others about autism.”
She championed the fundraiser all through the first half of 2021, and with the support of her team alongside several community partnerships with businesses and individuals, their collective efforts throughout the last seven months have finally come to fruition.
“It was a very dedicated group of individuals on the committee that was able to put this all together,” says Kara Chatfield, the foundation’s development officer. “Jodi originally thought of this initiative quite some time ago, but she’s really been working since early this year to bring it all together.”
With a fundraising target of $37,500 and an asking price of $750 per piece, it’s an earnest effort for a noble goal. Any funds raised will be contributed in their entirety to funding programs and equipment purchases within the hospital, particularly mental health programs, labour and delivery, and technological innovation, all of which have been under heavy strain from COVID’s impact on healthcare systems.
Anyone who would like to peruse the pieces up for sale this weekend or who would like to follow along with the artists involved as they showcase their paintings over the next few days can follow @burlingtonartscape on Instagram for live updates and behind-the-scenes peeks at the creative process and are encouraged to follow the individual artists’ accounts as well.
On top of that, for any interested buyers who have their eye on a particular piece or would find themselves otherwise unable to attend, an online portal for purchasing any art not snapped up in the now-concluded pre-order period is now open.
