Love is in the air, art is up for sale

Romance is in the air, as this year’s 15^th annual Art From The Heart Show and Sale takes place on the auspicious days it was truly meant to be held on: Valentine’s Day weekend – Fri. Feb. 13 and Sat. Feb. 14, at the Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre, 430 Langside Street.

This year, 90 gifted artists with over 200 pieces of art show off their talent using many mediums including, sculpture, fibre painting, pottery, drawing, jewelry, photography and much more. Unique to Art From The Heart is the support they give to the development of inner city and low income artists where 100 percent of every sale goes directly to the artist.

This may be the perfect opportunity to treat your valentine, family, friends and yourself to that special something as you discover some of the city’s finest hidden treasures on Friday the 13th from 7 pm to 9 pm and on Saturday the 14th from 10:30 am to 3 pm. You can meet with the artists, share stories and purchase some great art.

Every piece of art has a story and you are sure to be amazed by the talent these artists reveal. Interacting with these artists, it’s apparent their blood, sweat and tears have gone into their work, expressing every emotion from joy to sadness, creating their art from their heart and soul.

The public is welcome to join in the fun at the art pARTy on Friday evening. With fine art, food, live entertainment, activities and a raffle, what more can you ask for on the eve before Valentine’s Day?

“ATLAAS is performing live, The Tallest Poppy is catering, and Graffiti Art Programming is gonna make valentine’s cards with the kids,” according to visual artist, Becky Theissen.

Contemporary artist Val Huffman, who is one of the show’s volunteers, says, “This is best art party on the calendar every year.”

It’s the reason Huffman and the rest of the crew got together to bring the Show and Sale back to life on the day true to its name. Art really does come from the heart.

Usually held in the fall, the Show and Sale seems to fit better on a weekend filled with love and romance. The art in the show portrays the artists’ love for their work, through which their strengths and vulnerabilities are exposed. The artists are more than happy to show the public some insight into their art and to reveal how they put their heART and soul into their art.

Over the years, this event has become a home to many artists. To them, this is the best place to show off their art in a safe environment where they can make connections with other artists and potential buyers. They love the fact that 100% of the sales go back to them and they appreciate the support they receive from Art From The Heart.

Many artists look forward to this event all year long. Indeed, some were disappointed the show did not happen in the fall.

There was a need to bring the artists back together, and it would have been sad to see it die. A wonderful group of volunteers brought the art show and sale back to life, reuniting the artists with the community, where they may not have had the chance otherwise.

“This year’s Show and Sale was postponed for the first time, while changes to the organizational and Board structure were underway,” says Huffman. The result was the creation of a small group of volunteers who got together to reignite the sparks that helped plan the February Show and Sale.

This neighbourhood event brings people together from all across the city. It also allows those in the inner city to become closer to one another, share some comradery, have some good times and create new friends.

This may also be an excellent opportunity for gallery owners to discover their next artist; perhaps finding someone they never knew existed; a diamond in the rough of the inner city.

A raffle will be held with the winner’s name to be drawn at the end of the day on Saturday. Admission is free (donations are welcome) with 100% of the sales going to the artists. Cash is preferred, while some artists accept cheques.

It may be time to remove the word “starving” from the phrase “starving artist”, by supporting your local artist and helping them thrive. The public is welcome to come out and show their love of art, for art’s sake. This event provides an opportunity to place your heart back into art and put art back into your heart.

Bring your love of art to the heart of the city and find that hidden treasure you never knew was waiting for you, or that you never knew you were looking for.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all.  Let your love shine from your heart to the lives of everyone in your life and all you meet. Give the gift of art to yourself and others all year long.

All photos by Marie LeBlanc (except where noted)