Linwood House is hosting its second annual art show July 13 from noon to 5 p.m., and a key feature will be the photography of Downtown East-side women who took part in photo-therapy sessions during their stay.
Phototherapy is just one tool that women use while attending one of Linwood House's three-day retreats.
"The women tell their stories through phototherapy," said Gwen McVicker, co-owner of Linwood House Ministry.
McVicker said some of the women will be present at this year's art show to discuss their photographs and how they reflect their personal lives. The theme for this year's show is 'peace.'
All of the pictures were taken on the Coast with eight donated, digital cameras and each woman chose a few to display for sale. With the donation of development and framing from locals, they were also able to make copies to take home for themselves.
This year, other artists who plan to donate 30 to 40 per cent from the sale of their original artwork to Linwood House Ministry include Jane Ford, Brian Romer, Donna Stewart, Yzabelle Deslisle-Milton, Louise Lenko, Barney McLeod and Douglas Rae.
Linwood House, located at 3144 Linwood Rd. in Roberts Creek, is a Victorian-style home built on two hectares. McVicker and her partners, husband Ron and sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and Doug Rae, started Linwood House Ministry in order to offer "hurting women from all walks of life, including those from Downtown Eastside" a beautiful place to connect with their personal potential and their own beauty.
McVicker said that since last year's show, the community has come out in full force offering opportunities to the women that many could only dream of. The women experienced boat rides on Porpoise Bay to see the dolphins, tours to different ranches for horseback riding and pet therapy where local residents brought their cats and dogs to Linwood House for the guests to meet and play with.
McVicker said the three-day retreats can have positive, long-lasting effects for the women she hosts.
She said one woman initially told her, "I'm a crack whore. I was born a crack whore, and I'll die a crack whore." At the end of her stay, she told McVicker, "I am not a crack whore. I am a mother."
It is realizations like that McVicker hopes the ministry will open up for many more women. She invites everyone to attend the art show and meet some of these remarkable survivors.
