Dana Claxton, Bobbie Burgers, Jeff Wall among the artists contributing to Arts Umbrella's Splash 2022
The 40th anniversary of the annual art auction features pieces by close to 100 artists, including Douglas Coupland, Marie Khouri, and Russna Kaur
Dana Claxton, Hip Hop NDN. Image courtesy of Blaine Campbell Photographic Services and Rachel Topham Photography Ltd
Arts Umbrella’s 40th Anniversary Splash Art Auction takes place on October 22 at 6 pm at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and online
ARTS UMBRELLA CO-FOUNDER and honourary chair Carol Henriquez remembers sitting on the floor of the post office in Bellingham 40 years ago, wrapping and mailing 50 canvas umbrellas to various artists in hopes they would paint them, send them back, and allow the organization to put them up for bidding at Splash, its inaugural art auction. Finding paintable brollies in Vancouver wasn’t possible at the time, hence the trip to the United States, where an Arts Umbrella board member had a post-office box. Thirty of the umbrellas came back, adorned with original artwork—including submissions from Andy Warhol, Gordon Smith, and Jack Shadbolt.
That year, Arts Umbrella’s fundraising effort raised $31,000. Since then, more than 1,100 artists have contributed artwork to Splash, including Stan Douglas, Dana Claxton, Douglas Coupland, Angela Grossmann, Gathie Falk, Bill Reid, and Jeff Wall. The late Gordon Smith participated for 39 years; other long-standing contributing artists include Patricia Johnston (38 years), the late Judson Beaumont (37 years), and Jamie Evrard (35 years). More than $9 million has been raised to help Arts Umbrella continue with its mission to provide young people with access to an arts education, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
Carol Henriquez.
Having launched in 1979 with 45 children, Arts Umbrella aims to instill a love of the arts in young people and to help foster confidence, creativity, and compassion. The organization now reaches more than 24,000 young people every year, with more than 80 percent served through bursaries, scholarships, and donor-funded programs.
“We’ve come a long way, baby,” Henriquez says with a laugh in a phone interview with Stir. “Part of the reason artists donate is they really believe in Arts Umbrella and what we do. Most of the children won’t necessarily go on in the arts, but they will take that experience of creativity and approach it to whatever they do in life. This is a person who can think outside the box: that’s what Arts Umbrella gives them, besides confidence in their ability.”
Henriquez, who served as Arts Umbrella’s executive director for 25 years, is a sculptor and a member of the Order of Canada with a BC Entertainment Hall of Fame “Star” on Granville Street. She recalls a day while she was out grocery shopping and a woman approached her, saying she recognized Henriquez. The woman said: “My daughter just phoned me this morning. She’s a lawyer in Chicago, and she said ‘I’m going into a court case this morning, mom, and I’m channelling my theatre classes at Arts Umbrella.”
“The skill set they learn at Arts Umbrella are transferable to whatever they do in life,” Henriquez says. “They take it with them. That’s so powerful to me.”
Karin Bubaš, Woman in Forest Grove. Image courtesy of Blaine Campbell Photographic Services and Rachel Topham Photography Ltd
As Splash celebrates its 40th anniversary, the goal for 2022 is to surpass last year’s fundraising record of $1.5 million.
Close to 100 emerging and established local, national, and international artists are contributing to this year’s Splash. They include Andrew Dadson, Dana Claxton, Karin Bubaš, Brent Wadden, Bobbie Burgers, Marie Khouri, Jeff Wall, and Russna Kaur, among others.
While the 40th Anniversary of Splash on October 22 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, presented by Nicola Wealth, now has a waiting list, people can participate in the online and live auctions from home, with the event being broadcast live. The gala features student performances by Arts Umbrella Dance Company and Pre-Professional Musical Theatre Troupe, while curated catering deliveries are also available.
The Splash artwork is now available to preview online with advance bidding for the live and online auctions at www.SplashArtAuction.com. For more information, see https://www.artsumbrella.com/splash/.
Bobbie Burgers, Cumulus: #1. Image courtesy Arts Umbrella
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