Catholic Vancouver October 18, 2023
L’Arche art show paints a vivid portrait of community
By Nicholas Elbers
Sigrid Stark was standing in a hallway lined with artwork created by L’Arche community members 13 years ago when the L’Arche director of philanthropy received a spark of inspiration.
She had been searching for a new community fundraising event idea that was “not a golf tournament.” Looking at the artwork-lined wall, she said God gave her the idea to hold a L’Arche art show.
She named the exhibit Art Together to reflect the collaborative nature of the artwork made by L’Arche community members. None of the members works on their artwork alone. Instead, each is paired with volunteers and L’Arche staff.
This year’s exhibit took place at the Saint John Paul II Pastoral Centre, and while it was a financial success, with more paintings sold than any previous year, Stark and her team emphasize that the exhibit is about more than money.
Its real significance, she says, comes from how art is able to reflect L’Arche values of inclusion and community.
“It’s more than creating art,” said Stark. “It’s building relationships that hold the community together.”
When people buy the original works of art or small prints, “they take a little piece of L’Arche home,” said Stark.
This year’s theme was Once Around the Sun, and each piece of art corresponds to a month of the year and is paired with a short poetic description written by the artists.
L’Arche is an international organization that provides community, housing, and support for people with developmental disabilities.