Artist Kathy Crawshay of Horse Lake is happy to be the featured artist at Showcase Gallery throughout the month of May and she plans to use the opportunity to help others.
Her show includes 15 joyful paintings of children at play in the outdoors and it's hard to miss the price tag of $50 displayed on each one of them. One has already sold and she hopes each of the remaining ones sell, too.
Crawshay says she plans to donate 100 per cent of the proceeds to the South Cariboo's Gold Rush Grannies, whose members raise and donate money to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. That organization supports grandmothers in Africa who are caring for children who have lost their parents due to the AIDS epidemic.
Crawshay says painting is a hobby that gives her joy, and she likes to donate pieces of her work to a different charitable organization each year. Her choice to support the Grannies was made in November at last year's 100 Mile & District Arts Council Winter Arts and Crafts Fair where she was inspired by what she saw going on at their concession stand.
"I thought they worked so hard and they always seem to be out raising money. The quilters are always giving their quilts away, and I thought it would be good for artists to give away their work."
Crawshay has been doing it on an annual basis for a number of years and says it makes her feel good.
"And when people buy a painting, it should make them feel good, too."
All of her show paintings are 14 inches (36 centimetres) by 17 inches (42 cm), matted and framed, and Crawshay notes they would normally sell for $100 each.
They will be on sale for the special price only until the end of May.
The paintings represent the style and subject matter Crawshay naturally gravitates to in her art. All are scenes of children having fun biking, kayaking, snowboarding and doing the outdoors activities she loves to do as well.
"I like to do people out having fun in the Cariboo, with lots of mountains and kids."
All of the paintings were done specifically for the show and Crawshay has been working on them since September. She says it was fun having a project like this to work on.
Showcase Gallery is located in the main lobby of the Cariboo Business Centre at 475 Birch Ave. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
To purchase one of the paintings, contact Crawshay at 250-395-3725 or e-mail her at crawshay@bcinternet.net.