Valentine's Day Art Show Aids Haiti

Around 70 local artists have donated original works of art which will be sold at a special Valentine's Day exhibition and sale in Belfast to raise money for the survivors of the recent earthquake in Haiti.

HeARTS4Haiti is the latest event to be organised by the Belfast4Haiti campaign which has now raised more than £40,000 with the art sale being the brainchild of two photography students, Cathy Dempster and Faye Rossi.

"We were really keen to try to help the people of Haiti and we just came up with this idea," explained Faye.

"We had no idea how much support we would get from local artists - but they've been fantastic.

"Our only problem is the logistical one of collecting all the works of art and getting them mounted within the space of a couple of weeks. But, even if we have to work day and night, we'll get it done," she said.

One of the highlights of the sale will be an intriguing painting of Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams trying to outwit each other while playing a retro children's boxing game.

The artist, Belfast-based Andy Brown, makes his living as a comic-book illustrator. The painting of Paisley and Adams, entitled Rock'em Shock'em, is one of a series of political images he created for an exhibition a few years ago.

"As it happens, with the recent political talks, the painting still has contemporary relevance," observed Andy.

"It's meant to be a light-hearted image which will make people smile. I hope, for the sake of HeARTS4 Haiti, someone's prepared to pay good money for it!"

Other artists represented at the sale include the Belfast artist, Dale Mawhinney, and the Portrush artist, Mark McMeekin.

Dale, whose work hangs in a number of Belfast businesses and restaurants, has donated a striking oil painting, Tatooed.

Meanwhile, Mark McMeekin has donated one of a series of paintings of the late footballer, George Best.

The exhibition and sale gets underway at the Black Box in Belfast at 12 noon (until 6pm) on Sunday, 14th February. Admission is free. Refreshments will be available.

"While we will be auctioning some of the most valuable works of art, most are being sold at a fixed price," said Faye.

"There will be plenty of photos and crafts as well as paintings, so there will be something to suit most budgets and tastes."

All proceeds from Belfast4Haiti events are going direct to the Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella group of 13 aid agencies which are assisting in the earthquake relief effort.

More details are available on the Belfast4Haiti website at: www.Belfast4Haiti.com

(BMcc/GK)