Gallery auction to feature local artists, aid fire station

BY FRED LAWRENCE

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

Local artists are busy preparing for another fundraiser to aid the Southwest Hants Fire Society in Vaughan.

Organizer Dr. Teresa Machel said the Gallery Auction set for Nov. 3 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 in Windsor is shaping up to be another successful event. “Last year we had a lot of incredible art and it was very good to be able to raise funds for the Fire Society and to promote the many artists who live in this community.”

Machel said the Fire Society needs to continue to raise funds to help pay for upkeep and maintenance of the new fire sub-station in Vaughan.

“It was such a struggle at first to have the station built and now we have to work to maintain it, so we continue to hold fundraisers and the community has been very good about helping,” she said.

“Our community is extremely proud to have the fire station and our volunteer firefighters. Not only does it provide security, but also we’re able to utilize the building for social and cultural events. As it relies solely on volunteers, we’re always raising funds to maintain its operation; hence, the reason we have invited Nova Scotia artists to donate to our auction.”

The first Gallery Auction held in 2004 brought in over $11,000. “No one could believe it,” Machel said. “It was the biggest success in all of our undertakings to-date because so many local businesses and community members along with artists came together to help.”

That auction brought art in many forms including watercolour, acrylic, oil, sculpture, carvings, ceramics, photography and textiles. “We hope to achieve a similar success at the next auction,” Machel said.

All art mediums accepted

Machel noted the Society has no reservations about accepting works of art that aren’t ‘traditional’ paintings. “We embrace everything; it can be any type of art, from wood to glassworks, photography and, of course, paintings,” she said.

Artists can submit up to five pieces for the auction and have the chance to have their work reproduced and included on an annual calendar, and fundraiser, featuring various scenes depicted by contributing artists.

Letters were mailed out in March to artists who helped in the past and to others the Fire Society hopes will attend and donate some of their work. “We held a workshop in June at my home for artists to get to know one another and to work on ideas such as the calendar, to design that and keep the project ongoing,” Machel said.

More to Nova Scotia than ‘Peggy’s Cove’

Machel said the art auction is about more than raising funds for the Fire Department; it’s also about raising the profile and awareness of the talents within the local art community. “This is more than a fundraiser for the society. It helps promote the artists who help to promote this lovely place. I feel at times this area is not recognized enough and people need to know that there’s more to the province, especially the Valley, than Peggy’s Cove,” she said.

“I’m so proud to live in a place where art is embraced and celebrated, and I’m proud we have so many talented people living in this area. It’s wonderful.”

For more information on the upcoming Gallery Auction call Machel at 798-3220. The Gallery Auction viewing will begin at 11 a.m. with the auction starting at 3 p.m. There will be a DJ dance to follow the event. All proceeds go to the Southwest Hants Fire Society.