Charity Art Auction This Thursday, Raising Money for African Media

TORONTO, Dec. 8 /CNW/ - This Thursday, December 9^th, work from artists across Canada will be on the auction block at Changing the Picture: jhr's inaugural art auction.  Held at Propeller Art Gallery on Queen Street West in Toronto, top painters and photographers alike will be auctioning pieces that reflect social issues, hope and change.

Artists featured include Jonathan Hobin who will be auctioning a piece from his controversial series "In the Playroom" that was featured in Maclean's magazine and on CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos' Tonight. 

Also showing are pieces by Georgia Fullerton, recently featured at the Royal Ontario Museum; Sio, featured at ScotiaBanks 2010 Nuit Blanche and Leon Soriano, featured at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Other artists include Christian Mcleod, Hawa Kaba, Mac McArthur, Magalie Han Hung Pew, Henna Kim, Tom Ridout, Cathy Keum, Jacqueline Crawley and many more.

All revenue will be split between the artists and jhr (Journalists for Human Rights). jhr is a Canadian charity that empowers local African media to create widespread public dialogue on important human rights issues.

"The first step in creating change is to have people aware of the central issue, and to get them talking about it.  Art, like journalism, has the ability to start that discussion," says Ben Peterson, co-founder and executive director of jhr.

Some pieces, such as the powerfully beautiful collages by Burkinabe artist Hawa Kaba, bring hope to a situation of apparent poverty. Others, such as Hobin's photographs of what happens to childrens' play in the aftermath of tragedy, ask the questions that many are afraid to ask. All ask that spectators look at old issues in a new light.

Sponsored by Steam Whistle Breweries, the evening features drink, hors d'oeuvres, and live music.

Who: jhr (Journalists for Human Rights)
What: Charity Art Auction
When: Thursday December 9, 2010. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Where: Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, 984 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Why: Raise Money for jhr while also supporting the local art community
How: Admission is $10 and tickets are available online at http://changingthepicture.eventbrite.com A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $15.

jhr (Journalists for Human Rights) is Canada's largest media development organization. jhr trains journalists in Africa on how to produce media that gets people talking about human rights issues, thus expanding human rights awareness.

For further information:

Aileen Doyle, jhr's Community Programs Coordinator:
e.[email protected], t. 416 413 0240, w.www.jhr.ca