Keiskamma Canada Foundation's Fundraiser 'ART FOR ART' raises nearly $17,000

Reaching a hand of hope across the ocean, an Edmonton silent auction of North American and South African art raised just under $17,000 to support artists in rural South Africa who are part of the award-winning Keiskamma Art Project.

Hosted by Women of Hope (part of the Stephen Lewis Grandmother to Grandmother movement) and Keiskamma Canada Foundation, the October 23 event at Edmonton’s Timms Centre for the Arts featured over 30 works donated by North American artists as well as exciting new pieces from South Africa.

South Africa’s contribution of textile artwork depicted scenes of birds, plant life, and other animals, crafted in brightly coloured collages of recycled and hand felted fabric. One distinct hanging, Cynthia’s Cloth, featuring a characteristic sacred cow, was a beautiful tribute to the earliest beadwork crafts initiated by the Art Project in Hamburg, SA.

Special guests at the auction included a South African grandmother and granddaughter who were visiting Alberta as part of AfriGrand Caravan, a Stephen Lewis initiative.

Annette Woudstra, Director of Keiskamma Trust, provided a brief update on the work in South Africa, where shortages in anti-AIDS medication are adding enormous strain to already burdened budgets.

Proceeds from the event will support The Keiskamma Trust, whose programs bring hope and healing in a neglected region of South Africa that is battling AIDS and ninety per cent unemployment.

Keiskamma Canada FoundationPO Box 34199, 126 Kingsway Mall Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaT5G 3G4www.keiskammacanada.com

Keiskamma Canada Foundation Art for Art Auction - 23rd of October 2010

September 22, 2010

Dear Friend of Keiskamma Canada,

You may recall that in May of 2008, a wildly successful art auction was held by the Keiskamma Canada Foundation and the Women of Hope. The purpose of the auction (Art for A.R.T.) was to raise funds for the not-for-profit group based in South Africa called the Keiskamma Trust. Over $14,000 was raised at this event, which Keiskamma Canada was able to send to help dispense A.R.T.s (anti-retroviral therapy) to the many people living with HIV/AIDS in the area served by the Trust. If you attended the first Art for Art, we thank you again for your generosity. It was an amazing evening!

With such success the first time around, we are making plans to repeat the auction event and ask you to join us for another evening of great art. The Art for Art auction this year will take place on October 23, 2010 at the Timms Centre for the Arts in Edmonton.

The purpose of this auction will be to raise funds to support the Art Project of the Keiskamma Trust. The Art Project provides employment to over 130 individuals who are often the only wage earners in their extended families. In an area claiming 90% unemployment, this project is vital to sustaining these communities. A powerful and committed band of artists work together, in a variety of mediums, on craft items and award-winning artworks of monumental scale that have been exhibited both in South Africa and internationally. More information about the Trust and the work produced by the Art Project collective can be found on the website: keiskamma.org.

Recently, the Art Project collective spent time studying Picasso’s “Guernica” and, in response, created a series of embroidered tapestries and installation works, reflecting the experiences of a community ravaged by HIV/AIDS. We are elated to have been able to contribute to this endeavour and to pledge ongoing support for them in future explorations. We invite you to help us celebrate and to envision a more hopeful and sustained future for these people.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance for $25 or $30 at the door. A free drink ticket accompanies your admission cost in addition to light snacks. We have will have music from a local duo, as well as presentations from the president of Keiskamma Canada (Suzanne Knol) and the director of the Keiskamma Trust (Annette Woudstra). Many works of art created by locals will be available for auction in addition to a number of large textile works from the collective at the Trust.

Thanks again for your past support. We hope to see you in October.

Sincerely,
Wenda Salomons
Secretary

P.S. If you have time to help us out, we could use your energy in promoting and mounting this event. Please email me to find out how you can help.

14027-106 Ave. ٠ Edmonton ٠ Alberta ٠ T5N 1B3 ٠

http://www.keiskammacanada.com/ ٠ keiskammacanada@shaw.ca

South African group calls on city to help out

Art - Keiskamma Canada Foundation's Joyful Angels

Keiskamma Canada Foundation together with the Canadian choir ‘Joyful Noise Choir’ launched a campaign to support the Keiskamma Art Project. The challenge was for the about 30 children of the Canadian choir to pre-sell as many felt angels as they could for Christmas... and on the 14th of November, closing date of the campaign, they had sold 701 felt angels! The Keiskamma Art Project Doll Makers thank all the children of the choir, Rein for the coordination of the whole order and Keiskamma Canada Foundation for the great support that they brought with this idea of Joyful Angels and for linking our Project with the Choir.

On the photograph: The Keiskamma Art Project Doll Making Group