Donated artworks create sense of home in new affordable housing project
It may not be as crucial as a couch or a bed, but new artwork will certainly bring cheer to 72 new affordable housing residences opening in a vacant office tower.
More than 50 artists have contributed 136 original pieces to the Art Is the Heart of the Home project initiated by Linda French of Calgary's Plaid Moose Gallery. The art will adorn the walls of individual housing suites in the Neoma building at 706 7th Avenue S.W., which was renovated by Homespace Society in conjunction with Inn From the Cold. They will provide housing for 180 vulnerable Calgarians, including low-income families with children, single mothers, Indigenous people, seniors and newcomers to Canada.
The building will include a dedicated art room and will also house the new headquarters for Inn From the Cold. It also sports Alberta's largest mural on the west-facing exterior wall. The facility opens on Sept. 29 and families will move in later this fall.
“I started the Plaid Moose Gallery to support local Canadian artists and arts organizations,” said French. “I proposed this project to Homespace because I wanted to connect the generosity I experienced from our local art community with a community who needs to know that they matter,” said French. “For me, bringing art into their homes is a great way to show that Calgary cares about them.”
Artists have also donated art supplies and some have volunteered to host free workshops for residents later this winter. When families move in, they will choose an art piece for their unit — something meaningful to them — and each child in the building will be able to select an original poster for their new rooms.
“I have been blessed in my life and it's my turn to give back where I can,” said artist Terri Lynn Hill, explaining why she participated. “This Homespace housing project seems like an incredible opportunity to offer support by doing what I'm most passionate about, painting. I hope to put a smile on someone's face and warm their heart and home.”
French says most of the participating artists are from Calgary, with four from B.C., two from Edmonton and one from Nova Scotia. She had hoped for corporate sponsorship to be able to pay the artists but wasn't able to arrange it.
“The artists were so giving and I feel it's a community that is asked to donate a lot,” French said.
The public can get involved in the project by purchasing an art supply bag that will be given to the community art room. The supply bags, valued at $15, $25, $50 and $100 via Kensington Art Supply, are available until Oct. 31.