An unusual show opens at La Cabana Gallery in Sechelt this week. It will feature a preview display of 12 torsos, made of concrete in a light, hollow form, each one embellished with paint, fabric or glass by local artists, and each one carrying the pink ribbon of breast cancer awareness.
Twelve artists, 12 differing visions, yet each woman conveys her personal style. Pauulet Hohn, the stained glass artist from Pender Harbour, has pieced together a dynamic mosaic of coloured glass adding a three-dimensional pink lotus flower. Ursula Bentz, who makes wearable art, has turned her fabric-covered torso into a leaf and moss-strewn forest floor. Both Lenore Conacher and Helen Hunter have used a touch of gold in their paintwork to give an elegant look to their torsos. Other participating artists from all over the Coast are: Motoko, Anita Lindblom, Carol Whittaker, Gerhilde Stulken, Judy Heyer, Greta Guzek, Yvonne Stowell and Yzabelle DeLisle Milton.The artwork will be on display for two weeks. The public is invited to visit La Cabana (5679 Cowrie St.) from March 13 to 17 and March 20 to 23 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Organizers of the fundraising event, the Sunshine Dragons Abreast paddling team, will auction off each of the torsos at a gala event on March 24 to raise funds that will allow the team to compete in the Breast Cancer Dragon Boat regatta in Australia in the fall.
"We estimate the trip will cost about $3,400 per person for the week," says paddler Laurie-Ann Ketter. She hopes to see thousands of dollars raised at the auction. The torsos were donated by Rick and Ann Harmer of Bluff Hollow Cement Works in Garden Bay, then decorated and made available for fundraising by the 12 artists. The paddle team is on the right track. The auctioneer is Ed Hill, noted for his skill in relieving an audience of spare funds. The auctions, both live and silent, will also offer some original items: a personal concert from the group Viveza, a trip to Tofino and other donated artwork. The evening will be emceed by CFUN's controversial talk show host Pia Shandel, and many of the artists will be in attendance.
The paddlers, who are all living with breast cancer, also donate to the Breast Cancer Foundation and a portion of the funds raised on the gala evening will be donated to the Sunshine Coast Hospice.
The Think Pink Gala and Auction takes place on Saturday, March 24 at the Seniors' Centre in Sechelt starting at 6:45 p.m. with the auction at 8:15. Tickets for $35 include appetizers and can be bought at various outlets.
