Art auction raises money to support women – Airdrie Today

An online auction is bringing local artists together to raise money for a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women leave abusive environments.

“This online art auction means the world to us financially, and we love what it does for the women artists in town,” said Crystal Boys, president and director of Community Relations with Airdrie P.O.W.E.R. (Protecting Our Women with Emergency Resources).

The POWER of Art online auction features work by 21 female artists from Airdrie and the surrounding area. The artworks are valued at more than $10,000.

A minimum of 50 per cent of each bid will go to Airdrie P.O.W.E.R., and Boys said a few artists have generously offered to donate 100 per cent of the bid on their work.

Items up for auction include acrylic, watercolour and mixed media art, as well as jewellery and a reclaimed timber wine rack. Airdrie artist Amanda Tozser – who collaborated with Boys on a painting titled “INSTINCT” – said she is happy she can contribute to the cause.

“There’s so much diversity in the art,” Tozser said, “There’s something for everyone at the auction.”

According to Tozser, “INSTINCT” was inspired by the idea that some women may not have the strength to leave when abuse is aimed only at them, but as soon as the violence is directed toward their kids, “they get the courage to get out of the situation they’ve been in for so long.” In the painting, that strength is represented by a woman transforming into a tiger.

Dawn Warden is another artist who has contributed to the POWER of Art auction. In June 2019, Warden survived a violent assault at the hands of her ex-boyfriend, who attacked her with a sword. Among other severe injuries, three of her fingers were severed and Warden didn’t know if she would ever paint again.

“She has taken the horribleness that was thrown at her and turned it into a positive and inspiring story,” Boys said. “She’s a survivor and a pretty amazing advocate for domestic violence.”

Warden’s mixed media art piece, created when she was in recovery, makes use of antique jewellery on canvas.

Money raised through the auction will go toward funding Airdrie P.O.W.E.R.’s education, awareness and counselling programs, Boys said. The organization exists to help local women escape abusive situations – a problem that Boys said has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic

“It went dead quite in April, and then [the calls] just spiked for us in May,” she said. “That month, when everything was quiet, these women are just in lockdown with their abuser and have no space or time to reach out for help, which was really scary.”

Boys said COVID-19 forced Airdrie P.O.W.E.R. to be creative in providing ways for women to safely reach out for help.

“It was a very challenging and very scary time, having to come up with new types of procedures just out of nowhere,” she said.

The POWER of Art auction will run until June 15. Art included in the auction can be seen at 32auctions.com/POWERofart

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