Art that feeds body and soul

photo courtesy of Carolyn Burt

HUMANITARIANS. Nearly a dozen artists like Penny Grellier, shown here at last year’s art-a-thon, give of their time and donate portions of sales to the fundraiser that aims to provide food bank clients with the same healthy choices one could find a commercial supermarket.

The FISH Food Bank at Mason United Methodist Church in Proctor sees an average of 4,300 clients every month, a sobering statistic showing a clear indication that a lot of people in Tacoma are struggling to put food on the family table. Sensing an opportunity to commit random acts of kindness for her community, artist and owner of Proctor Art Gallery Carolyn Burt is assembling her artist friends to help make sure there is plenty of fresh, nutritious food to go around.  

On July 31, Burt and nine other artists will set up their easels at the Proctor Farmers Market for the second annual Food Bank Art-a-thon. Burt organized the first art-a-thon in 2009 as a way to generate funds to supply fresh produce straight from the farmers market to the church food bank. Almost $2,000 was raised last year, enabling the Mason FISH Food Bank to obtain fresh produce at a discount from market vendors throughout the entire market season.

This year, art-a-thon organizers are hoping for a repeat of last year’s success. Participating with Burt will be Alexis St. John, Sharon Crocetti, Lucy Schwartz, Bonnie Cargol, Kristin Jurist, Marquita Hunt, Karen Fischer, Mary Wolfe, Suni Cook-Boucher and Tom Bona. Scattered throughout the market in tents, these artists have pledged to spend the day (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) painting, drawing and creating in order to generate donations for the food bank through pledges and by market customers dropping donations in cans that will be placed at each tent.

New this year is the addition of a massage therapist to the event. Amy Hanson will be there to relax you and unlock your creativity with a five-minute massage for $5, with all proceeds going to the art-a-thon.

Another new highlight is the drawing for a handmade rocking “dragon” made by local rocking horse artist Bill Wolfe (). He and wife Mary donated one of his rocking dragons to the art-a-thon, and those who make donations to the cause can fill out a ticket for the drawing.

Proctor Business District Association and neighborhood businesses have already made pledges to the art-a-thon, and the artists themselves are collecting pledges from friends and family for a flat amount or a per-hour rate while the art-a-thon is happening. Many Proctor businesses have donation cans on their counters right now so that people can contribute to the art-a-thon if they can’t make it to the market on Saturday.

“The artists that did this last year had a ball,” Burt said. “It’s fun to meet the public and see all the colorful things at the market. There’s always something that draws your interest as an artist to paint.” Those who may wish to purchase any of the paintings being done that day can do so at Proctor Art Gallery (3811 N. 26th St.), where the finished works of art will be put on display. The artists will donate a percentage of these sales to the art-a-thon fund.

“We’re doing this because we care about the community. It’s our way of giving back,” Burt explained. “Some may think that people who use a food bank can just eat out of cans, but the reality is fresh foods are good for people and everyone should have them, especially children.”

The Proctor Farmers Market is located at North 27th and Proctor streets.

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