Artists donate paintings to help programs in the DTES
Posted August 26, 2012 5:20 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Artists across Vancouver are donating their paintings to help dozens of people struggling with addiction.
What began as a small project to liven up the walls of Union Gospel Mission live-in alcohol and drug recovery program, has evolved into a full-fledged rotating gallery.
All of the earnings will go to helping over 60 people struggling with addiction.
UGM’s Keela Keeping says the money earned will go to counselling, education and safe housing.
“These are people who have been addicted to drugs or alcohol and they’re really trying to clean up their lives and get a lot of help,” she says. “Obviously [for] many who end up on the Downtown Eastside–it’s kind of the last stop.”
Many of the pieces for sale were created with the theme, Hope for a New Beginning, in mind.
“It takes a lot of hope, it takes a lot of personal energy and a lot of counselling and support from everyone around [them] to overcome these challenges,” Keeping says.
Among the contributed pieces are the works by the late Toni Onley, who was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999, as well as by his daughter Lynn Onley.
“When you see art on a space, you know that space matters, and that there’s someone out there who cares,” Keeping explains.
The grand opening of the gallery will be on August 30th. The exhibit features 17 works of art.
