While generosity might be considered a mood that strikes you, in Vancouver, evidently, it's For Life.
Over the past 20 years, the Vancouver Friends For Life Society has engaged the local arts community to auction off donated works from artists, galleries, and private collectors at one of the city's most established charitable events. The funds raised support the society's continued efforts to better the lives of individuals suffering from life-threatening illnesses through complementary health services such as Chinese medicines, counselling, and meal programs in a home-like environment.
Called Art For Life, the gala event last year raised $225,000 in a single evening, and has raised a total of $3 million to date.
This year, in addition to an impressive roster of fine art, the 21st annual event is going "beyond the canvas" by adding live art experiences, such as cultural tours in Montreal or New York and behind-the-scenes VIP experiences at the ballet, to the auction list.
And, of the three Friends For Life signature events (you might have heard of Dining Out For Life, BC's largest restaurant fundraiser, or Bingo For Life, their weekly Bingo fundraiser at Celebrities Nightclub), Art For Life is quite possibly the most accessible.
While the live auction items have the expected number of zeros after them, emerging local talent is fostered through the silent auction, where pieces of contemporary art can start at around $100.
As event director Michael Smith recalls, his first time at Art For Life wasn't even really about the art.
"A lot of people actually come that might not be able to afford a $5,000 piece of art, but really just love the party," he says. "I remember my first time, coming to Art For Life, god,11 years ago… and I certainly didn't have the wallet back then. But it was the party of the year. People just really enjoy coming and meeting their friends and having a drink while supporting a very worthy cause at the same time."
Among the highlights of the 2014 live auction are Elisabetta Fantone's pop-art portrait of Freddie Mercury, entitled "King of Queen", and Tiko Kerr's "Century House", donated from a private collection.
"Our very first signature artist was Tiko Kerr," explains Smith. "Tiko Kerr has been a great supporter of Friends For Life for many years. His first piece was actually a painting of the Diamond Centre, which is our home here, and he was our 20th anniversary signature artist as well."
Kerr also has the honour of holding the record for highest single-bid auction item – $15,000 (and three times the piece's value) – which came in at last year's gala. The piece, again a painting of the society's Diamond Centre, was then donated back to Friends For Life.
Like the West End itself, both Art For Life and Friends For Life have evolved greatly over the last two decades. The former began as a 10-day art exhibition in Denman Mall, while the latter has grown from a means to end of life care – delivering massage and hot meals for people with HIV/AIDS during the height of the pandemic in the 1990s – to be North America’s only comprehensive wellness centre providing holistic services to people living with different life-threatening illnesses.
Executive director Kim Angel says it was advances in antiretroviral medication in the treatment of HIV/AIDS that prompted the society's mandate to change dramatically.
"The wonderful fact [is] that antiretroviral medication is prolonging the lives of individuals that are HIV-positive … [So] our mandate has broadened to include individuals who are also diagnosed with cancer, ALS, cystic fibrosis, and Hepatitis C. And we're finding our demographic now is changing rapidly. More of our clients coming into our centre have been recently diagnosed or diagnosed with cancer."
But Angel says, as she prepares for Art For Life on Nov. 22, the support from the community each year is the overwhelming constant.
"It just personifies how many people, even at a distance, truly care for others who are experiencing very difficult circumstances. One thing I think we all have in common: Most of us who walk this planet have a friend, a loved one, a family member who has been afflicted with a life-threatening illness, so it's something that, deep down, everyone is able to relate to. And knowing that they can help support somebody going through a very difficult time… For me, it's overwhelming at times."
The Vancouver Friends for Life Society’s annual Art for Life art auction and gala takes place on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Roundhouse Community Centre (Pacific and Davie). Tickets are $90 at ArtForLife.net.
