Sandy Hook Auction

Welcome to my auction post for The Paint Party Friday Auction Blog Hop to Benefit the Sandy Hook Elementary School

On December 14th, 2012, 20 innocent children and 6 brave adults lost their lives in the second deadliest shooting in American history.  Like everyone else, I was profoundly touched by this tragedy.  Next to keeping our children safe at home, we trust them to be safe at school.  What happened was unimaginable.

I thought the metaphors of new growth, rebirth and renewal, were fitting tributes to the lives lost at Sandy Hook.  Because I am committed to making the world a more peaceful place, I chose Sandy Hook Promise as the charity to receive the proceeds from my auction.  The mission of Sandy Hook Promise is to:

1.  Help the community heal and provide ait to the family members who lost loved ones, to survivors, teachers, staff, first responders and to the Newton community;

2.  Bring together, in local and national dialogue, the great majority of Americans who agree that we must find common sense solutions to make our communities and our country safer. 

What I Am Auctioning:

I'm auctioning off this set of 4 mixed media 4x4" canvases. 

The backs are signed and dated by me, and the little easels are included so that they are ready for immediate display!

Auction Specifics:

This auction runs from Friday March 15th, 2013 until 

Monday March 18th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EDT.

UPDATE: AND THE WINNER IS LYNN COHEN! THANK YOU LYNN!

Shipping (anywhere worldwide) is free. 

(If painting is shipped internationally, shipping is still free BUT 

the buyer is responsible for any duty/taxes/etc.)

How to bid:

1. Place a bid (with a way to reach you) in the comments section.

2. Bookmark this page so that you can easily check back to see if you've been outbid 

(and need to make another bid).  Increments of $5 please!

3. If you are the winning bid, I will contact you.

4. Payment will be made from you to Sandy Hook Promise.

*I will not personally be collecting any money.*

5. Once you have made your donation, you will send your proof of donation (a forwarded receipt) to me at: 

jessicabethsporn (at) gmail (dot) com

6. After I have received your proof of donation (and you have given me your address), I will mail your paintings out to you! 

As you make your bids, please keep in mind that all proceeds go to a worthy cause...

Happy Bidding!

And please visit the other wonderful artists at Paint Party Friday!

Love Always

 

Like everyone else, I was profoundly touched by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  Next to keeping our children safe at home, we expect them to be safe at school.  What happened was unimaginable.  

 

Shortly after, I started working on a painting.  I knew I wanted it to have a house or a school house.  I knew I wanted it to have a heart for every person lost that day.  I wanted it to have a sense of time - time passing, time running out, time standing still.  I wanted it to to have bright, primary colors, like children would use.  And finally, I wanted it to convey a sense of re-birth and renewal, because death and birth are intertwined; one does not exist without the other. 

As I worked on it, I kept hearing the song "A Little Fall of Rain" from Les Miserables in my head:

 A little fall of rain

Can hardly hurt me now

You're here, that's all I need to know

And you will keep me safe

And you will keep me close 

And rain will make the flowers grow. 

Here is what emerged:

Made with acrylics, polymer clay, gelli plate paper collaged house and hearts, stamping, scribbling, love.

Linking to Creative Everyday,  Create With Joy, Mandarin Orange Monday, Make it on Monday, and Monday Mantras.

My older daughter Mariel and two of her cousins have always been extremely close -- like sisters.  I've held onto an extra copy of this photo of the three of them (from 1998) for years, thinking I'd do something special with it.  When I bought this old book at a book sale, I knew its destiny!

I cut an opening in the front of the book roughly the size of the photo.  I removed some of the first few pages too, and used them to make a matte for the photo.  I used the pieces I cut away to decoupage around the opening on the book cover to smooth out the edges.

I added many layers of paint, lace, stenciling, stamping, and embellishments, to created a frame for this sweet photo.  I glued the cover together with all of the remaining pages, leaving the back cover to create a stand.

I do believe that they will love each other always.

Linking to Eclectic Paperie (altered book), Happy Daze (Love is All Around), Inspiration Emporium (LOVE), Frilly & Funkie (lace and hearts) and One Little Word (Always).

Thank you for visiting! I read and treasure every comment and will answer any questions as quickly as I can.