What We've Done So Far

Art With A Heart has been helping people and the community since 2009

2011

In October, more than 100 guests enjoyed dinner and entertainment by comedians Neil Crone and Kevin Franks at Art With A Heart’s annual fundraising gala. The evening was emceed by Chef Christian Pritchard and The Heather Luckhart Collective performed. Jazz musician Matthew James made a special presentation. The gala proudly showcased the works of artists who offered their art as part of a silent auction, and generously donated half of their proceeds to Art With A Heart.

The Pinewood Centre and Durham Social Services hosted a special one-day event “Phenomenal Women” focussing on Women in Fall 2011. Artist-At-Large and Executive Director facilitated a half-day workshop and facilitator Angela Brown assisted with teaching more than 25 women the art of life journalling.

Culture Days is celebrated across Canada. Art With A Heart joined the festivities with three days of free events, where Durham residents participated or learned about storytelling, dance, modern batik painting, textile art and face painting. Each workshop was taught by a skilled working artist.

Art With A Heart hosted the “bistro” at the Oshawa Arts Council fall art fair, held at Oshawa’s Camp Samac. Over the course of three days, participating artists and visitors dined on soups, chili, sandwiches, salads and sweets served by the Art With A Heart team.

Art With A Heart Inc. partnered with Durham Family Court Clinic for a second time to facilitate workshops for youth. The 16-week program taught sculpture, watercolour, mosaic art, free motion embroidery, modern batik and writing to 13-to-19-year olds. Some of the young men and women who participated have maintained their ties with Art With A Heart. Two emerging artists are regularly hired to face paint at public events with Sunflower the Clown (aka Artist-At-Large and Executive Director Sheri Gundry).

A special Valentine’s Day fundraising dinner shared Art With A Heart successes with guests at Eat. Care. Love, an evening of fine food, jazz and art. During this dinner, a patron generously donated a $5,000 tuition bursary to one of the youth associated with our art workshops.

Art With A Heart youth volunteers helped young children complete a craft designed and prepared by Artist-At-Large and Executive Director Sheri Gundry at The Conference Place Gallery during Imagine Film Festival. This was associated with RIO movie event.

Our Artist-At-Large and Executive Director, Sheri Gundry, participated in Colin Burwell’s documentary about art in our communities. This is another way that Art With A Heart contributes to building an appreciation for art and its many benefits.

2010

Art With A Heart Inc. programmed their first series of workshops for youth as part of a partnership with Durham Family Court Clinic formed in 2009. Fifteen youth, aged 14 to 19, and five of their assigned workers attended the optional art program. The pilot program was an experiment to gauge the benefits to youth and Durham Family Court Clinic recognized a new confidence among participants and improved attendance.

Camp Samac hosts the Oshawa Arts Council Fall Art Fair and show and Art With A Heart volunteers again served warm foods and sandwiches, sweets and healthy snacks to artists and guests to fundraise and build awareness about our charity.

Art With A Heart food artist Jacquie Horvat created and donated special food platters to The Conference Place special gallery event in Spring 2010. This event helps build awareness about mental illness.

Drawing on our work with at-risk youth, Art With A Heart’s Executive Director attended Durham College’s 2nd annual At-Risk Youth and the Law Conference in 2010. While there, she participated in workshops to better understand both the barriers at-risk youth face and the focus of the justice system in their dealings with youth.

Continuing in its support of arts and culture in Durham, Artist-At-Large and Executive Director Sheri Gundry and Artist in Residence for Textiles Kim Mather attended the Winter 2010 Art of Transition/Artscapes Conference at Oshawa’s Robert McLaughlin Gallery. They participated in roundtables to talk about art spaces in Durham Region being initiated.

The first Art With A Heart Newsletter is sent to friends, supporters and patrons in January 2010.

2009

Art With A Heart Inc. announced their opening with a fundraising gala to raise funds to help children in orphanages in the Ukraine. Renowned Canadian bandurist Victor Mishalow performed, six original batik paintings of orphans were sold, as well as hundreds of Art With A Heart calendars, which documented the plight of orphans as well as historic Ukrainian traditions. Proceeds of $2,000 were raised. The event was held at L’viv Hall in Oshawa, Ontario.

Art With A Heart Inc. followed the Ukrainian-themed gala with a full day of cultural arts event. This day included more than 28 participating artists/artisans, live musicians (Brian Gordon, Derek Giberson and Heather Luckhart, Ukrainian Dance Troupes, BOW Flag team), guests such as Sunflower the Clown, and food sold by L’viv Hall. Live art was created by children with youth volunteers leading various projects including creating your own picture frame and pumpkin painting.

Camp Samac hosted the Oshawa Arts Council Fall Art Fair and show and Art With A Heart volunteers served warm foods and sandwiches, sweets and healthy snacks to artists and guests

Executive Director and Chairman of the board for Art With A Heart attended the first Art of Transition Conference in Fall 2009 and Executive Director Sheri Gundry was then asked to have the cover of the first Transitions ‘zine released by Durham Tourism. This introduced people within Durham Region to both Sheri’s artwork and to Art With A Heart.