It鈥檚 not her first brush with charitable work 鈥� far from it.
But a 91原创 painter has found fresh inspiration in an 80-year-old forest threatened with destruction and has stepped in to help. The Watchers of 91原创 Forests鈥� (WOLF) efforts to save the piece of land they鈥檝e dubbed McLellan Forest will benefit from the sale of an original acrylic painting donated by Susan Falk.
The artwork, which was unveiled in the Fort Gallery on Friday, Jan. 11, will be on silent auction until the end of February.
The painting is of the forest itself 鈥� 25 acres of lush woodland in Glen Valley 鈥攚hich Falk first visited at the end of October, after reading a story about WOLF鈥檚 fight to keep the land from being sold by the Township and subsequently developed.
鈥淚 just happened to read it in the paper, so I took a stroll with Scarlett (her Newfoundland dog),鈥� said Falk.
What struck the artist was how popular the forest is, with its well-trod paths and park-like atmosphere.
Although the artist isn鈥檛 opposed to development altogether, it鈥檚 important, she said, to pay attention to what鈥檚 happening around the community.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing wrong with awareness . . . there鈥檚 so much land under development in 91原创 and once it鈥檚 gone, there鈥檚 no bringing back these creeks and trees,鈥� said Falk.
Valued at $1,200, the painting, which is considerably smaller than the massive canvases Falk is well known for producing, has a reserve bid of $400. Bids will be taken in minimum $50 increments either at the gallery, or through Falk鈥檚 email account, susanjfalk@shaw.ca.
鈥淭he idea is just to help them finance their efforts, if I can,鈥� she said.
After the painting is sold, if the future of the forest is still up in the air, Falk will continue to produce artwork for the group to sell at auction, she said, possibly moving toward her traditional larger canvases painted in oils in the process.
鈥淚t would be really great if we could hang on to a section (of the land),鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 especially important with Glen Valley being so close to Fort 91原创, the Birthplace of B.C.鈥�
Fort Gallery is located at 9048 Glover Rd. Call 604-888-7411 for more.
