ATTENTION: NEWS/ARTS EDITORS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2003

ARTISTS RALLY FOR KELOWNA FIRE VICTIMS

Artists from as far away as South America, the U.K and Asia are sending original paintings and other art objects to families who lost their homes in the Kelowna fires. The movement was inspired by a letter written by artist Robert Genn, who writes twice-weekly on creative practices to artists all over the world. A recent letter of Genn’s told the story of art dealer Stewart Turcotte, owner of Kelowna’s Hambleton Galleries. Turcotte was called to action by Kelowna’s numbered art collectors – who asked him to pick up valuable artwork for safe storage during the evacuations. Even Turcotte was awe-struck by the important works of art hanging on the walls of many Kelowna homes, including notable works by the Group of Seven and Emily Carr. Turcotte is now spearheading the campaign to repair and clean all the smoke-damaged artwork, and has inspired artists worldwide to lend a helping hand to those who were victimized by the fires. “The idea is to be able to give families something original and of value for their rebuilt homes, and/or to use the artwork to raise funds for the rebuilding effort.” Simultaneously, Turcotte is not only a hero in the eyes of Kelowna art collectors, but in the hearts of artists and art collectors worldwide. Genn’s original letter to artists is copied on the next page.

Stewart Turcotte is the owner and director of the Hambleton Galleries in Kelowna, B.C. Turcotte has been storing the art collections of fire-stricken Kelowna residents in a secure warehouse, and is now collecting original works of art donated by artists worldwide as part of his art benefit to help victims of the Kelowna fires.

Stewart Turcotte can be reached at 250.860.2498 or at info@hambletongalleries.com.

Isabelle Prenat is gathering work from other Vancouver Island artists and delivering them in her truck to Stew in Kelowna. Her address is 3911 Anton St, Victoria, BC, Canada, V8Z 4M4 and can be reached at (250) 704-1064 or by email at keno8@earthlink.net Murray Roed, the burnt-out painter mentioned in Robert’s letter, managed to save most of his paintings and is giving one of them to the cause. Murray Roed is at mroed@shaw.ca

Artists who wish to contribute to this cause can send their work directly to Stewart Turcotte at Hambleton Galleries, 781 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, V1Y 6P6. To arrange details, he can be reached at 250.860.2498 or info@hambletongalleries.com

The Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letter is an email dispatch for artists and can be subscribed to free of charge at www.painterskeys.com. The letter exists as a service and community for thousands of artists, students, art professionals and creative people worldwide and is published simultaneously in 3 languages. Robert Genn lives and works in Crescent Beach, B.C and can be reached at 604.538.9197 or rgenn@saraphina.com.

Fire Duty

Dear artist,

Stew Turcotte is the owner-operator of the Hambleton Galleries in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. If you’ve been watching the news lately you might know that Kelowna has been struck by a huge forest fire that has resulted in the loss of 250 homes. Firefighters and equipment were brought in from far-off places. At times 30,000 people were on "evacuation advisory.” Officers banged on doors and told people to be out in two hours. With water-bombers and helicopters overhead, lodge-pole pines candling and wind-tossed brush-fires rushing through built-up areas, Stew’s van could be seen in and out of smoky driveways hurriedly picking up art for safe storage.

Next to human life, art is the first thing we try to save. Art has value beyond cost. It carries sentiment only rivaled by family albums, books and perhaps jewelry. It makes a statement of who we are, our loves and our passions. Forget furniture. Forget computers. Forget the kitchen sink. If your place is going to be torched you need to move your art.

Whole subdivisions were leveled. In some places alternate homes were wiped out, their neighbours’ homes still standing, their swimming pools ready for an afternoon swim.

Murray Roed is an artist and subscriber to this letter who lost his home and studio. "It’s an opportunity for a new start,” he told me. It’s possible to be philosophic. In 1943, when Norman Rockwell’s Vermont studio burnt to the ground, he rationalized that it was a good thing, a cleaning of the creative slate. Artists are like that.

People aren’t. They love their art because it’s something they can’t do. Art for the collector has magic, wonder, memory, connection and personality. The next time you’re wondering if it’s all worthwhile, just remember that people run out of burning buildings carrying our stuff. Just remember that art is long. Art touches the very soul. Stew Turcotte remembered that.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Long after our monuments of brick and stone, vitriol, plastic and concrete have vanished, our words, our art, our legends and our myths will remain as a legacy.” (Harry J. Boyle) "My sun sets to rise again.” (Robert Browning)