From left, Ali Ledgerwood, Valerie Arntzen, David Maclean and Ginger Sedlarova look at some of the art submitted by local artists to give as a gift to front-line workers for the arTHANKS project. (photo by Ric Ernst)
A group of B.C. artists wants to give back to frontline workers – from bus drivers to nurses to grocery store clerks – who have kept showing up at their jobs throughout the pandemic.
Artists Ginger Sedlarova, David MacLean, Ali Ledgerwood and Valerie Arntzen started arTHANKS, an initiative to give free works of art to frontline workers across the Lower Mainland, last year.
So far, artists have donated more than 80 works of art, including ceramics, paintings and photographs, to show their gratitude to essential workers who, two years into the pandemic, are feeling increasingly forgotten and overlooked.
“You’re able to let them know that they’re appreciated,” says Sedlarova, adding that gifting art is a way of saying “thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Artists often include the stories behind their pieces for recipients, who can choose a work that appeals to them from the group’s website. Organizers take pictures of frontline workers picking up their paintings, and then share the image with the artist.
ArTHANKS is looking for more artists to donate work and help spread the word about the project. The organizers also encourage artists in other communities who want to start a similar initiative to reach out through the website.
