We are all migrants – at least that’s the thought behind the tremendous support from the Sunshine Coast community to make a home here for Syrian refugee families.
Artists Bodhi and Mudito Drope wanted to help raise the required funds to settle a Syrian family and offered their volunteer work to the organizations, the Christian Life Assembly and Crossroads Community Church, who were sponsoring the refugees. An immigration requirement is that sponsors must raise enough funds to support the family in their first year. They must also find housing, clothing and other necessities – all of which takes money.
As artists themselves, the Dropes broached the idea to the churches of a silent and live art auction fundraiser using the services of the Coast’s popular auctioneer, Ed Hill. With no budget and a limited time to organize such an event, the two began their work.
“We are pulling off in a month what usually takes three or four months to organize,” Bodhi said. They turned to the Coast’s many artists and were overwhelmed with the positive response. “Ninety-nine per cent of the artists stepped up,” he told Coast Reporter.
They were asking artists with a fan following to donate – the same people who are asked for donations all the time and contribute frequently to the many silent and live auctions. In one case an artist had already donated paintings four times to four different events. In another case the artist did not have anything ready to send to an auction and wrote a cheque instead. Another stopped work on a big commission to create a silver bracelet as a donation.
“They give, give and give again,” noted Bodhi, “to many local groups out to raise money.”
The list of contributing artists now numbers 55 and it includes a good selection of items in a price range from $50 and up. On show will be jewelry from several of the Coast’s artisans including creations from Kerri Luciani and Atelier Veronique, and pottery from Creek Clayworks, Jack Ploesser, Jack Olive and others. Paintings, photos and prints will be on display from over 25 local artists, including several from the talented Eleven Equal Artists. Also wood crafting and glass work, weaving and quilting – the list goes on.
How did the Dropes get involved in the big business of art auctions?
“I wanted to put my energy where my mouth is,” Bodhi said. The couple will also donate work: Mudito, a painting, and Bodhi, a digital print and a wood sculpture.
Twelve to 15 of the items will be sold by live auction – for example, paintings from Marleen Vermeulen and Jan Poynter are on the auction list, and this goes live at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 5 at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery. You will have some time to cruise the other items up for auction in advance – many will be on show on the gallery walls. With friendly permission from artist Jeff Wilson, his current exhibition will be taken down temporarily to accommodate the auction. In the smaller Eve Smart Gallery, the work by Nick Westover will stay up and it serendipitously depicts portrait photography of refugee families, providing a good reminder of what the event is all about.
Three speakers are planned at 3 p.m., one from Welcoming Communities, an organization that offers settlement, outreach and informal English language services to newcomers. The silent auction continues the next day, March 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The doors will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days and the silent auction items will be on display. The gallery is located at 431 Marine Dr. in Gibsons. The Dropes have been helped already by several volunteers and will need more help closer to the time. Contact them at [email protected] or at 604-886-4938.
