Bag it up: funky totes raising funds
Proceeds from bags to benefit Sandra WinterDEAN LISK The Daily News, January 31, 2008
They're an artful way to help out a friend."It is really a neat idea," said Adriana Afford. "When we put them out for people to see, they were really impressed. They wanted to buy the bags outright and offered us hundreds of dollars."As part of a unique fundraiser, Argyle Fine Art is giving people the chance to win one of 21 one-of-a-kind canvas bags designed by prominent Nova Scotian artists and filled with great stuff."You could use them as a functioning bag, but there are some there you may want to frame," said Afford, who owns the gallery.The sale is being held to support Sandra Winter, a well-known figure in Nova Scotian art circles who is about to undergo her second double lung transplant.Winter has been in Toronto since last July, and has been going daily to the hospital for physical assessments. It's these which help decide where on the donation recipient list she is placed."Her outlook is still really positive, and she has been trying to keep herself busy with stuff, as much as she can. Right know she needs diversions; you could imaging what it is like sitting and waiting two or three hours for something, so imagine what it is like waiting close to a year."It was last May that a group of Winter's friends first got together and began brainstorming ways they could help her.They want to raise more than $70,000 to help pay for pre- and post-operation costs associated with such a large operation. They've had online auctions, yard sales, raffles and even a drag show."The conversation came up about doing an art auction and things like that, and - not that there is anything wrong with that - it seems that it's been overdone," Afford said.There was also the fact commercial artists make their livelihood off their works, and donating them to an auction happens at a financial loss for them.Instead, the bag idea was put forward as a way the artists could still use their talent, and create something unique and unusual."It allows them to do something that maybe they never get to do, and to just have fun but also be able to do something for someone," Afford said.Some of the artists involved in Artful Bag have never met Winter, while others have been longtime friends with the former Art Gallery of Nova Scotia employee. One of those is Margi Hennen. She and Winter are members of the Brunch Bunch, a group of artists who meet regularly."She is the bravest person I ever met," Hennen said. "I thought this was a neat idea and people have worked really hard."I think people are willing to help out because they know she would be doing the same with all her heart and soul."For her bag, Hennen used the image of a crow pecking at a wine cap. Other bags have been emblazoned with dragon flies and men in a row boat, a monster rabbit towering over a cityscape, and fabric flowers which pop off the canvas.Artists involved in the fundraiser includes Holly Carr, John Neville, Alan Syliboy and Alan Bateman.Each of the bags has been filled with a selection of goods donated by local businesses, other artists and organizations. A draw for the bags will be held on Thursday, Feb. 7."One thing that has come out of all these projects for anyone involved has been this overwhelming realization that when people are in need, people come out of the woodwork and will do whatever they can to help," Afford said."That help can be small or large, but it is a nice way to realize that people are great."
IF YOU GOWHAT: Artful BagsWHERE: Argyle Fine ArtWHEN: Through Thursday, Feb. 7NOTE: Tickets for the bag draw are $15. Call 425-9456.
