Photos: Art Fundraiser For Children In Dominica
Special needs children of Dominica will receive the benefits of money raised in Bermuda through the concept of Art for Dominica organized by artist Joan Aspinall, and her friend and craftswoman, Jeannine Smith.
“We are dedicating our funds to a charity called Alpha Centre which my late aunt supported,” said Ms. Smith. “And I want to support it in her honour. Considering the current circumstances and the devastation of my former homeland, it is only right to reach out to the most needy and most vulnerable.”
The Centre is dedicated to teaching children, aged 6 through 15, life skills to enable them to live independently as they age. They are brought in daily from all over the island by their parents, and the teaching format consists of basics; reading, writing, arithmetic, along with cooking, sewing, laundry, arts and crafts, and gardening.
“They grow some of their own food,” Ms Smith stated. “Just enough to teach them the procedures.”
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Run by a board, the Centre receives minimal help from the Government and is mainly supported by public donations.
Speaking on damage following the recent hurricanes, Ms Smith said, “Windows blew out but have since been replaced. Ceilings collapsed. All supplies, books, fixtures destroyed. They are in dire need of help.”
The objective of Art for Dominica, conceived under the sponsorship of Pina of Bermuda by artist Joan Aspinall, is to exchange an offer of money for art.
“We are not holding out a tin cup with a sign around our necks,” Ms. Aspinall stated. “Every donor receives an item of art whether a bookmark, a package of art cards, or a signed lithograph ready for framing. We will accept anything from a dollar up.”
Customers/donors who have stopped by their table in Washington Mall are delighted with the concept.
“When someone makes a donation and tries to walk away empty handed,” said Ms Aspinall, ” we laughingly thrust a package of prints in their hands and tell them to give it to a friend.”
This will be Joan Aspinall’s last appearance at the table to sign work , but Jeannine Smith will operate in the same location on November 24th and 25th.
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