– On March 23rd 2011, ARTSIDA, the third annual art expo and fundraising auction to benefit AIDS Community Care Montréal (ACCM) opens for a three week exhibition at Galerie Dentaire, 1239 Amherst, concluding with an auction at Hôtel des Encans, 872 rue du Couvent on April 14th. Cocktails and buffet at 6pm, auction at 7pm. Tickets are 35$.
The event has raised over 65,000$ since it first began 2009.
Now entering its third year, ARTSIDA organizers have defined the event as one with both a strong community mission in supporting a local HIV / AIDS charity, but also with a vision that promotes the local Montreal arts scene as well.
“The Montreal art scene is one of the most exciting, diverse, and interesting ones in North America” explains Jean Fortin, curator of Galerie Dentaire ” And their community spirit is without peer. There are beautiful, exciting works of art, all donated by generous artists for a very worthy cause.”
Founded in 1987, ACCM, has continually adapted to the changing realities of sexual health. In the last 12 months, the organization has launched a series of ambitious projects: the Teacher’s Sex Ed Tool Kit, designed to facilitate the sex ed reform within the education system and a series a edgy, prevention campaigns like the social network testing initiative ATOMc – but it also offers one on one and group support, a food security program, a Treatment information program, and basic human connection which many people living with HIV lack.
“We use technology to our advantage, to be relevant and reach a wider audience. But we are a very human, grass roots organization. Our heart and soul comes from the people- the clients, the members, the volunteers and the staff- who provide ACCM with its heartbeat, every single day.” says Fundraising & Communications co-ordinator Alex Wysocki Najar.
“I think its important to be involved with ARTSIDA, firstly to support ACCM because all of the people affected with HIV/AIDS in Quebec rely on this noteworthy organization for help. I have lost many friends to AIDS and have many close friends living with HIV right now. My painting THINK was created to remind people to “Think” about not contracting …HIV.” says Montreal artist and activist Kat Coric participating in ARTSIDA for the second year.
Besides Coric, This year features ARTSIDA3 features Daniel Barkley, Daniel Erban, Marie Danielle Leblanc, Zilon, Martin Brouillette, Varte, Steve Lévesque, Sebastien Gaudette, Yunus Chkirate, Charlotte Greenwood, Véronique Tifo, Bernard Rochon, Vince and a rare 1974 drawing from the late Peter Flinsch. The group of 60 touches on almost every genre of art, from figurative, to modern, to classical, to postmodern, to graffititi. Its also been a community affair, with not only Galerie Dentaire being the epicentreofr e vent, but galleries like Zephyr and FIMA (Festival International Montreal en Art) spreading the word about the event as well.
“ACCM is pretty amazing: progressive, edgy, yet sensitive and open to what is around them.” continues Fortin. “I would love to see ARTSIDA become the major cultural event on the Montreal scene every March-April. The arts community is worth falling in love with, and the cause is one we should all be talking about and supporting.”
Source :
Alex Wysocki NajarCoordonnateur au financement et aux communications fundraising@accmontreal.org
