Lakeshore artists set for annual show

BY MARC LALONDE

marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca

A community organization with longstanding West Island ties and traditions will hold its annual art exhibition and sale to benefit yet another longstanding community organization.

The Lakeshore Artists Association’s annual exhibition and sale is slated for Saturday and Sunday at Fritz Farm Community Centre in Baie d’Urfé. One-third of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to NOVA. The charitable group, which provides in-home care for senior citizens and runs a palliative-care service for terminal cancer patients among other noteworthy programs, will also receive 100 per cent of the proceeds from a raffle of art pieces donated by LAA members Gail Descoeurs and Mary Dorland.

More than 200 pieces will be on display.

One of the donating artists said the idea of getting NOVA involved in the annual sale was twofold; to raise money and boost the group’s public profile

“(NOVA) needs to get their name out there, and let people know that even though the name has changed, the group still provides the same service that they provided under the VON banner,” Dorland said.

The show itself has been a rite of spring in the West Island for a quarter-century, ensuring that both local artists and community groups get a chance to benefit. Last year,

the sales totalled about $30,000 — also ensuring a nice payday for whatever charity is benefiting.

“A lot of the artists are now more well-known both locally and internationally,” Dorland said, adding her fellow LAA members are what make the exhibition and sale so memorable year after year.

“(The association) is known for its group shows because they put charities and the wonderful people that work for them together with some other wonderful people. The result is a weekend that is usually a lot of fun,” she said.

Dorland has been a member for “seven or eight years,” she said.

The show is usually held outside, weather permitting, and the LAA is hoping the snow that fell Sunday night and Monday morning will thaw by the weekend.

The show is slated for Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fritz Farm Community Centre, 20477 Lakeshore Rd.

in Baie d’Urfé. For more information, call

514-695-8335.ꆱ