Flagler County, FL – Citizens around the world are coming together to find ways to help the people of Ukraine as the war heads into the third month of genocide. Some are collecting and shipping supplies, some signing up to fight, and some raising money to support organizations on the front lines. Locally, artist Carol Brown has teamed up with the Gallery of Local Art (GOLA) to host the upcoming show “Face of Ukraine” on April 23rd from 10 am to 5 pm.
Idle Hands
Never one to be idle, Carol Brown has been working with her hands for the past 24 years.
As a massage therapist, several years ago, she began to consider what she may do after retirement and prayed for guidance. Turned on to draped hypertufa – a style of art using a lightweight, porous materials such as perlite, peat moss and Portland cement, cloth, and cement pigment colors to transform ordinary objects into fascinating works of art, Brown knew she had found something she could invest her time and talent into.
“When I was a kid I loved playing in the mud. Now people pay me for the mud that I play in which is pretty awesome,” said Brown, who shows her flower pots in galleries like GOLA and also at gardening shows where her customer base is prevalent in addition to her garden art sculptures.
Selling her first ‘major’ piece, a cement turtle, last month at GOLA, not only did Brown feel validated as an artist, she felt inspired. The tragedies in Ukraine had not escaped her notice and after connecting with Selina, an Airbnb host in Kyiv, Ukraine, she sent money, as others around the world have done, to offer direct support to the ravaged country.
“I picked one, sent her an email asking if she was still in Ukraine and she said her husband and her dad both joined the military and stayed in Ukraine, and she escaped,” said Brown. “So I rented her Airbnb – they lost everything, he’s still there and the only income she has is that Airbnb that’s probably blown to smithereens by now.”
At the same time, Brown also began working on a piece of art that morphed into what has become the symbol of perseverance for Ukrainians, and from the giant sunflower, a face emerged.
“I had an idea for a face in a sunflower and I let spirit guide me. I cut the fabric and the next thing you know, I had this ginormous piece,” she said.
“My intention in the beginning was to make something maybe 20 inches wide. This is maybe 40 inches wide and weighs about 60 pounds. It’s the centerpiece of any wall. The suggested minimum donation is $750 but if somebody wants to give a $2,000 donation, we’ll be happy to wrap it for them.”
Spread the Word
Supported by the Gallery of Local Art’s co-owner Marge Barnhill, Brown has been working diligently to get the word out not just in Flagler County, but to artists across the nation about the benefit. All funds raised go directly to World Central Kitchen, a global nonprofit organization of chefs, feeding the refugees of Ukraine as they flee genocide. https://donate.wck.org/team/415928
“It’s not a war. It’s genocide. I am not a person that gets angry. I know that anger makes you sick, but the war in Ukraine makes me angry. It makes me cry and it touches my heart and I can’t, I wanted to do something, so I made this piece and it came out fantastic,” said Brown as her emotions bubbled up.
The term starving artist isn’t just a cliché saying and she knows not every artist can afford to donate their work, so as she reaches out to each one in artist groups via social media, she tells them about the event and asks that if they can’t participate, they share, in hopes their connectivity will reach more artists who can take part.
With artists from as far away as California, Virginia, and Louisiana, Brown has been surprised by the willingness of artists outside of the immediate community to give, and the creativity of those participating like Don Davis.
“Don Davis is a potter who’s making bowls and for a donation, they come with a bowl of soup,” shared Brown, hoping he’ll make potato soup but said it may be borscht.
“The international food store up the street from us is going to be donating cookies, we’re trying to keep everything in the show – Ukrainian food is going to be for sale, we’re going to do raffles including a week’s stay at a home on the beach. We’re accepting any kind of donation for the raffles,” she said.
“It’s a great opportunity to unite. Having an event like this pulls all good folks together and makes us see there are good folks left.”
If You Go
All works of art will be on site for the event and carry a sunflower sticker among the works in the gallery to indicate participation in the benefit. Suggested donations range from modest to generous, offering everyone a chance to support the efforts.
To participate or donate, please email Carol Brown at faceofukraineart@gmail.com.
There is no ticket purchase required to attend and all funds raised go to World Central Kitchen. If you cannot attend but would like to help, please donate here: https://donate.wck.org/team/415928.
