Why have artists always been attracted to Linwood House Ministries, a charity that raises funds to improve the lives of women and girls in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and on the Sunshine Coast?
The gorgeous Roberts Creek home and landscaped garden are aesthetically appealing, but it could be there is a deeper reason.
"It's a wonderful fit for us," said Linwood's president Gwen McVicker. "We see art as a way of nurturing the women when they're here on retreat. It's very healing."
This year, during the fourth annual Linwood Art Experience, 17 mostly local artists will contribute their time and 30 per cent of profits from work sold to Linwood. A key figure in this great showing of local artists is a Linwood board member, professional artist and teacher Yzabelle Delisle Milton of Sechelt.
She has participated since the first arts event four years ago. This year she set about encouraging more artists than ever before to display their work, invite their clientele and contribute to this good cause.
Linwood invites the public to visit this Sunday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 5 p.m., to stroll the grounds, listen to music, enjoy tea and scones and discover artwork.
"Art is the connecting thread," said Milton.
She tells about one of the contributing painters, Pamela Masik, an artist who didn't want the world to forget the missing women of the Downtown Eastside. She began to paint their images, and her work now hangs at the University of British Columbia. Masik came to the last three-day retreat at Linwood to paint self-portraits with women from Vancouver who are pulling their lives together.
Milton has contributed a portrait entitled Reflections that will be raffled off with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the ministry.
In it, a pensive woman is depicted leaning from a window. Milton writes, "Standing in the window of opportunity is a real challenge for this young woman. The decisions she makes here will determine the path that she takes and will last for her entire lifetime."
Other artists attending will be Jean Biccum Curry, a silk painter that Milton met at Fibreworks Gallery and whose outstanding work she admired. Doris Biddle will show her watercolours, as seen in The Landing Gallery. Art professionals Todd Clark and Jan Poynter will show their oil paintings and acrylics respectively. Ed Cleave brings his water colours of aging trucks and tractors. Charly Mithrush's acrylics are bold abstracts, while Donna Stewart shows her distinctive Renaissance style. Susan Furze works with stained glass, and Nancy Gatland will show her fused glass and silver jewellery. Shea Smith and Diane Fisher represent the potters.
A visitor can't always afford a painting, Milton said, but there will be some price points among the jewellery and pottery that they can afford.
Jesse Whitford is a soapstone carver from Pender Harbour. Oil painter Ann Willsie paints both landscapes and abstracts, while realtor Diana Starbuck demonstrates how much she has advanced as an artist with her acrylics. Douglas Ray, who previously co-ordinated the artists for the art experience, will show his oils. Artist Ed Hill writes in his invitation to the event that he is honoured to be part of this show.
The house at 3144 Linwood Rd. can be found off the uphill end of Roberts Creek Road. Signs point up the long driveway and volunteers will be on hand to help with parking. Admission is free. The event takes place rain or shine, because Gibsons Party Rentals has donated a 20-metre tent to help with weather issues.
Donated artwork from Clark, Motoko, Greta Guzek, Lenore Conacher and others will be available by silent auction. You can see some of the art on display at www.linwoodhouseministries.org, or phone 604-740-3757 for more information.
