November 2007

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Authors and Artists Come Together for Horizons: Select Live Art Auction at Writers & Friends 2007

November 9, 2007 in Events by linda

An impressive gesture has now inspired an exciting annual challenge, all for the benefit of Horizons of Friendship.

Following on the last two years’ successes, A Select Live Art Auction will once again be an important component of Horizons signature literary evening fundraiser to be held this year on Sunday November 18, at LeVan Hall, Trinity College School in Port Hope.

The generosity of Writers & Friends 2007 participating writers Elizabeth Hay, Noah Richler, Anna Porter and Linden MacIntyre is now complemented by contributions from local artists and special donors in this year’s Writers & Friends Select Live Art Auction. Their gifts are aimed to raise additional funds on behalf of Horizons of Friendship’s partners in Central America and Mexico. Click Art for information on art by Ron Bolt, Janet Read, Zim Art Gallery Christine Montgomery, Kyle Stewart and, a surprise offering, A Week in the South.

Among the contributors to Writers & Friends Select Live Art Auction is one of Canada’s finest living artists and longtime supporter of Horizons Ron Bolt. Ron has called Northumberland home for many years and is widely known and collected throughout world through his shows and exhibitions over the last 40 years. His valued contribution is “The Boys Who Saw Too Much”, a graphite pencil, framed, 23 ½” X 17”, valued at $ 1,800 with reserve $ 1,200.

The Boys Who Saw Too Much

Ron Bolt, graphite pencil, The Boys Who Saw Too Much

Also well-known for over twenty years in art circles in Northumberland and beyond is artist and poet Janet Read. Her approx. 12”x 12” icon “Sinking House” is evocative of Newfoundland and also comments on the state of our environment. It is valued at $ 650 with a reserve of $ 500.

Sinking House

Janet Read, icon, mixed media on wood, “Sinking House,”

ZimArt is once again donating a Shona Stone Sculpture of fruit Serpentine stone by Andimoya Chichota of Zimababwe. The recent ZimArt resident artist’s “Under My Wing”, h. 14”is valued at $ 850.

Sculpture

ZimArt Shona Stone Sculpture, Under My Wing, by Andamiyo Chihota

 

Christine Montgomery of The Glasshopper Studio is one of Canada’s leading professional stained glass and jewellery designers and is donating a large framed Stained Glass Window of Celtic design, 21’h. X 24” w., valued at $ 1,400 with a reserve of $ 950.

Stained Glass

Christine Montgomery, Stained glass Window

Kyle Stewart, a young artist from Toronto with family ties to Cobourg, has contributed an oil painting from his recent seasonal landscape series “November Leaves”, valued at $ 900.

November Leaves

Kyle Stewart, November Leaves

A much-anticipated offering is our Week in the South, at a retreat in the hamlet of Pradines, near Toulouse in the Aveyron district of the Midi Pyrenees region of France, valued at $ $850.

Week in Paradise

A Week’s Stay in France. 18th Century Farmhouse, Pradines, Midi – Pyrennes.

Writers & Friends Select Live Art Auction will take place on Sunday November 18th, following readings, gourmet buffet and the end of the Silent Auction at approx. 7:45 pm. Our auctioneer will be Andrew Gregg, head of the Fine Arts Department at Trinity College School. Bids will be final; payment may be made by cheque, cash, MasterCard or VISA to Horizons of Friendship. Supporters unable to attend Writers & Friends are invited to submit proxy bids by Saturday Nov 17th, 12 noon, by calling 905 372- 5483 ext. 14, or 905 373- 5414 or email dgorsline@horizons.ca

To order tickets for Writers & Friends by credit card, call 1-888-729-9928. Tickets are also available in Port Hope at Furby House Books and in Cobourg at Horizons’ office, 50 Covert St. For more information call 905-372- 5483, ext. 10, 1 toll-free 1- 888-729- 9928 ext 10.

El Salvadoran Partner Visit, November 18th-30th, 2007

November 1, 2007 in Events, Media Releases by community

From November 18 – 30, 2007, Horizons of Friendship will be hosting the director of our El Salvadoran partner, the PASSOS Education and Training Centre. Transito Ruano will be participating in a speaking tour with presentations in Ottawa, Kingston, Cobourg, and Toronto.
 

PASSOS provides training, guidance and research for social action, with specialization in professional training for those who accompany and provide care for people living with drug addictions and the socially disadvantaged. Currently PASSOS has centres in 12 marginal communities of San Salvador that train community outreach workers to offer a viable alternative to the rising problem of urban violence among youth in El Salvador.


Social violence is directly related to high levels of poverty and inadequate social programs. Over half of the five million inhabitants of El Salvador live in poverty, with persistent problems of malnutrition, lack of health and education services, escalating unemployment, insecurity and violence. El Salvador is classified as the most violent country in Latin America with an average of 10 murders per day. It is estimated that some 30,000 youth belong to gangs which control entire neighbourhoods and are directly involved in drug trafficking cartels. Violence against women is particularly problematic with high rates of domestic violence and an increasing incidence of "femicide" or killing of women based solely on their gender. The ineffectiveness of police and judicial services exacerbates the problem as does widespread impunity and corruption of government and state institutions.
 
Community organizations and government entities are trying to address the problem of social exclusion and violence; however they often lack trained personnel who can offer a constructive and integrated approach to violence prevention among youth. PASSOS' work specifically addresses this gap with the establishment of a School for Youth Violence Prevention that train community outreach workers and increase awareness of viable solutions among local leaders.
Transito will be speaking at the following venues:
November 19: Trinity United Church, Cobourg, 7:00-9:00pm
November 20: Kingston Hall, room 204, Kingston, 7:00-9:00pm
November 21: Tabaret Hall, room 083, Ottawa, 5:30-7:00pm 
November 23: 751 George Street N, Peterborough, 5:00-6:30pm 
November 27: OISE, room 2214, Toronto, 7:00-8:30pm
November 29: YMCA Rexdale Youth Centre, Toronto, 4:30-6:00pm

Come and learn how civil society organizations are making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth!
For more information, please contact:

Michelle Switzer, Commuity Outreach Coordinator, at 905-372-5483 x.24 or at mswitzer@horizons.ca