Madeline Baker, Times-Chronicle
In the weeks since Russia’s military forces launched their attack on Ukraine on February 24, many Canadians have found themselves moved to action in support of the Ukrainian people. Yellow and blue flags have sprung up across social media, in windows and on flagpoles, and sunflowers have become a symbol of hope for the nation that names them as their national flower.
A group of artists from the Okanagan Art Gallery in Osoyoos have now turned the sunny symbolism of Ukraine’s national flower into a fundraiser by creating and selling sunflower paintings, with 100 per cent of funds going to charities that support relief efforts in Ukraine.
In a statement to the Times-Chronicle, the artists share that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “has been deeply felt by all of us at the Gallery.”
“More than 3.7 million Ukrainians have fled abroad, half to neighbouring Poland. Hundreds of thousands of people have been cut off from help by Russian forces, and are besieged in places like Mariupol. The Ukrainian people are seeking refuge in bomb shelters, metro stations, and other emergency shelters, where conditions are very poor.”
Any art lovers who have also followed the dire situation in Ukraine and struggled with the question of how they can help now have the opportunity to own locally-created art and support displaced and besieged Ukrainians with a single purchase.
“Many of us have already forwarded 100 per cent of the sale of our paintings to the Red Cross for the people of Ukraine, or to one of the other charity relief efforts,” says Dorothy Tinning, one of the artists behind the art gallery’s fundraising project.
There is currently no scheduled end date for the project. The sunflower paintings can be viewed at the Okanagan Art Gallery at 8303 Main Street between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Tuesdays to Saturdays.
More information can also be found at okanaganartgallery.com, and gallery staff welcome and encourage phone calls at 778-437-2238 from anyone interested in their sunflower fundraiser.
