More than 30 of Calgary’s influential business and community leaders gathered at Contemporary Calgary to attend Rare, a fundraiser for Indefinite Arts Centre, Canada’s oldest and largest disability arts organization.
Host Erik Mercier from Juice Imports — an importer of rare wines from around the world — led guests through a unique evening, pairing wine with a selection of works by artists at the centre. Wines with a flowery scent or taste were paired with a beautiful painting of a garden by visually-impaired artist Kathy Austin. Earthier wines were paired with other nature scenes by artists Brian Ehnis and Shaun Johnson, while a fun Syrah was paired with a collaborative piece by MacKenzie Wigham and Mark Brickman entitled C-Jam Blues, inspired by its namesake piece performed by Oscar Peterson.
The artwork featured throughout the evening will soon join approximately a dozen others as part of an art loan arrangement with Global Affairs Canada, touring Canada’s embassies and ambassador residences around the world. Funds raised through the evening will support the centre’s programs and exhibitions which help more than 300 artists with disabilities who use the space weekly.
Guests included: Todd Hirsch, chief economist at ATB Financial; Strategic Group’s Riaz Mamdani and Kate Abbott; former Secretary to the Governor General Lachlin McKinnon; Gerry Chipeur of Miller Thomson LLP and his wife Barbara; ARC Financial’s Tyler Varga; Liana Robberecht, executive chef at Winsport; former Peters & Co. vice-chair Ron Wigham and his wife Melissa; NAC Foundation board member Christine Armstrong; art collectors and philanthropists Dell and Lauren Pohlman; Indefinite Arts Centre board chair and Calgary artist Jeff de Boer; and others pictured.
With files from Indefinite Arts Centre