This May 26th, 2022 I was invited to attend my very first Art for Life fundraiser. Now that capacity restrictions have been lifted, events that require mingling and moving about in confined spaces are once again on the table, and this one was for a good cause.
Art for Life supports the Dr. Peter Centre. As taken from their website. The Dr. Peter Centre provides “comprehensive, stigma-free care for those who need it most”. “Today, an estimated 7,271 British Columbians live with HIV/AIDS, and while many people have supports in place to help them cope, plenty do not. This all-encompassing affliction drains the mind, body and soul. Add when you add a history of mental illness, substance use disorder, and lack of shelter, life gets even worse.”
“The Dr. Peter Centre tackles this situation with its outstanding clinical care delivered daily with a stigma-free approach since 1997. Today, the Centre has emerged as one of the world’s most recognized care facilities for HIV/AIDS, sharing its best practices with agencies and governments across the country, and around the globe.”
Hosted at the Imperial within Chinatown, the Art for Life event included incredible artwork on auction, raffle prizes, small bites, plenty drinks, and even more entertainment. Hosted by Synthia Kiss, Canada’s Drag Race Season 2 Superstar with Hank Bull, as the auctioneer.
This event has brought together some of Vancouver’s most talented artists all in support of the Dr. Peter Centre’s Art Therapy Program. These artists have donated their work to be auctioned off. Each piece was chosen and curated by art connoisseurs and experts. And attendees had an opportunity to bring them home via a live auction on the night, as well as a silent auction in the weeks leading up to the event.
The night also included a live painting demo, of our Drag Queen host, that was eventually given away by way of raffle.
The food was catered by The Lazy Gourmet. A table of help yourself dishes served in cocktail glasses for easy portable dining on the move. It included Asian marinated vegetables and tuna poke over ice.
They also gave event goers a chance to take home an edible piece of their own art, by way of a chocolate decorating station. Hosted by Lazy Gourmet, it featured their collection of edible cocoa butter sprays and paints. Out of the milk, dark, and ruby chocolate bars available, I chose white chocolate as my canvas in order to best highlight my floral illustration with simmering gold paint.
And of course there was drinking. You often see better participation in an auction when everyone is a little more loose.
This was a great way to welcome the art community to the city, as well as earn much needed funds for a great cause. For how you too can support the Dr. Peter Centre and their mission for the betterment of those afflicted with HIV, visit the link here: https://www.drpeter.org/
