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Art Experience continues to grow

When a record 32 local artists gather in the garden of the Victorian-style mansion in Roberts Creek known as Linwood House this Sunday afternoon, they will be offering part proceeds from their sales to a humanitarian, non-profit organization.

When a record 32 local artists gather in the garden of the Victorian-style mansion in Roberts Creek known as Linwood House this Sunday afternoon, they will be offering part proceeds from their sales to a humanitarian, non-profit organization.

The sixth annual Linwood Art Experience on Aug. 12 is a fundraiser for the work of Linwood House Ministries, a grass roots network of partners and volunteers on the Coast and in Vancouver that provide safe places for people, particularly women of the Downtown Eastside, to leave poverty, violence and drug abuse, if only for three days, for a guided journey in a gorgeous setting.

"Our values define us," said Linwood founder Gwen McVicker. "We believe in the worth and dignity of everyone."

McVicker also believes in the healing power of art, and in the past few years artists have played a big part in fundraising, and several of them have led classes with visiting women to draw out latent talents.

Sechelt artist Rogest (Ron Stevens) has once again offered his skills and humour to an art class, and the results show promise from those who have never painted before. Their novice artwork is being auctioned and will be on display on Sunday. Another group of women went on a field trip to Liz DeBeer's pottery studio and the artist had them shaping clay elephants in an impromptu session.

In another recent session at Linwood, each visiting woman drew her dream and shared her work with others, helping them build relationships with each other and with Linwood to which they might return later, following rehab. It's a learning experience, and an empowering one.

"We believe they can make changes. We cheer them on," McVicker said.

Holding an art event on the lush, landscaped gardens of Linwood helps draw in more people from the surrounding community every year.

"We started with just three artists in our first year," McVicker recalls, then Sechelt artist Yzabelle Delisle Milton stepped in to pioneer a real show of what the Coast could offer.

This year Nancy Hache has co-ordinated a new array of artists including painters Ann Willsie, Judy Heyer and Diana Starbuck, glass artist Susan Furze, jewellers Kerri Luciani and Nicole Thomas, multi-media art from Donna Stewar, and photography from Barry Haynes and Tella Sametz, to name only a few.

Some have donated their work to the silent auction that will run that same afternoon. Look for a Kim LaFave original, two prints from Motoko and a collage from Billie Corbett. There will be music from fiddlers, piano from Ken Dalgleish and vocals from In Good Company plus trays of appetizers and sweets circulating, all made in Linwood's almost famous kitchens. Those who purchase $100 worth of art at the show will have their name entered in a donated draw for a Hawaiian vacation.

The Art Experience runs from noon to 5 p.m. this Sunday at 3144 Linwood Rd., Roberts Creek (off Roberts Creek Road on the mountain side of the highway). Volunteers will guide you to parking. For more details, see www.linwoodhouseministries.org.