The Counselling Centre of East Algoma is putting together an art show this Friday called “Art For The Holidays”.
All the art will be donated from artists and collectors in and outside the community. The event is running Friday at 7 p.m. with an open house at the Collins Hall and a virtual auction will take place Saturday.
“We will be hosting a dry opening, with live Traditional drumming, singing and dance performances and Ponto Paparo will also be playing the piano,” said Centre public educator Paula Kendall. “We will serve Traditional Indian Tacos and free hot dogs for the kids.”
The idea is for this event to allow community members to come preview the art, and have an opportunity to participate in a traditional Indigenous ceremony for the purposes of celebrating Winter Solstice.
Saturday’s virtual auction starts at 4 p.m. and will last for three weeks at 32auctions.com/CCEA. It will include all donated artwork with update bidding tallies online.
Proceeds from the auction will be donated to families in the community, as well as families in Serpent River First Nation. The families will receive food baskets with help from the Food Bank, purchase of essentials, and or gifts for the holidays.
Tickets for the event are $15 and kids 12 and under are free.
People will be required to purchase tickets ahead of time or at the door.
“Our financial goal is to raise $10,000 which would support 40 families,” Kendall said.
She added, that if the fundraiser exceeds the goal, the centre intends to provide the surplus to
other local charities for the holiday season.
“We are hopeful that with the support of the community we will exceed our goal,” she added.