Splash Gala in Support of Arts Umbrella, Oct. 5, Vancouver
Arts Umbrella, the beloved Vancouver non-profit which provides education and training in the visual and performing arts, held the 42nd edition of Splash, its most important fundraiser. $1.75-million was raised on the evening of Oc. 5, funds which will support scholarships, bursaries and programming for young people in Metro Vancouver and across Canada. Alongside cocktails and dinner, a performance by some of the young people taking part in Arts Umbrella’s performing-arts programs was given, but central to the event is a notable art auction. Substantial works – this year some 90 pieces – all given by artists and galleries from across Canada either went under the gavel in the live sale or were part of the online silent auction. Shuvinai Ashoona, Meryl McMaster, Douglas Coupland and Marie Khouri were just some of the big names with works on offer, however it was Dana Claxton’s LED firebox, Headdress – Shadae and her Girlz, which had the sold-out room abuzz as it shot past the presale estimate and fetched a record $105,000, all for the cause.
There among the 500 guests with paddles in hand: arts supporters Bruce Munro Wright and Christie Garofalo, who returned as co-chairs (they both sit on the org’s board); David Sung, executive vice-chair and president of institutional at Nicola Wealth, which returned as presiding sponsor (Sung also chairs the org’s foundation board); philanthropic duo Jim and Sandi Treliving; philanthropist Heather Edwards, who was a key supporter of the event; Arts Umbrella board chair and artist Terrence P.R. Turner; gallerists including Monte Clark and Mónica Reyes and art consultant Anita Cirillo; contributing artists including Kevin Boyle, Andrew Dadson, Valerie Raynard, and the aforementioned Douglas Coupland and Dana Claxton; Arts Umbrella co-founder Carol Henriquez; and of course, Arts Umbrella CEO Paul Larocque.
Kristin Lim, James Harry (Nexw’Kalus), Lisa Daly and Kevin Boyle.PAUL FUOCO/The Globe and Mail
Jolinda Linden and Christie Garofalo.PAUL FUOCO/The Globe and Mail
David Sung, Danielle and Matt Skipp.PAUL FUOCO/The Globe and Mail
Kate Galicz and Chima Nkemdirim.PAUL FUOCO/The Globe and Mail
Ron Regan, Nada Vuksic and Monte Clark.PAUL FUOCO/The Globe and Mail
Caroline Phelps, Rick Harry and Joleen Mitton.PAUL FUOCO/The Globe and Mail
Martine Cunliffe, Maria Prost, Kate Dunston and Barb Turnbull.PAUL FUOCO/The Globe and Mail
Art with Heart in support of Casey House, Oct. 9, Toronto
The following week in Toronto, the Carlu was the backdrop for Art with Heart, another important art auction – this one in support of Casey House, which provides care for people living with and at risk of HIV. Casey House supporters and a group of Toronto artists and gallerists gathered to take in this year’s offering (all 50 live-auction lots found a buyer), which coupled with ticket sales netted north of $1-million. Highlights this year included photographs by Edward Burtynsky and June Clark; a piece titled Glide 07 by Caroline Monnet; and a pencil-and-ink drawing by Ooloosie Saila titled Rainbow Bird from 2022. In front of me during the auction were a group of emerging artists including Ernesto Cabral de Luna, Amara King and Delali Cofie, all of whom contributed work to the silent auction for the fist time. Also in the room: TD Bank senior art curator Stuart Keeler (TD returned as the presenting sponsor); the auction’s curatorial committee co-chairs Raoul Olou and Spencer Shevlen; Olga Korper Gallery’s Shelli Cassidy-McIntosh and Patel Brown Gallery’s Jennifer Simaitis; artists Alex Bierk, Lucas Biagini and Kristiina Lahde; and Casey House CEO Joanne Simons.
Anowa Quarcoo.George Pimentel/The Globe and Mail
Dean Valentine and John Poulter.George Pimentel/The Globe and Mail
Mark Garber, Liz Esson and Mark Bonham.George Pimentel/The Globe and Mail
Charles Anyinam and Jake Mossop.George Pimentel/The Globe and Mail
Ruth Frolic and Heather McDonald.George Pimentel/The Globe and Mail