06/22/2026
- Paying it forward -
With much gratitude, I have received three extra grants this spring to keep working on The Art of Safe Keeping's final stage and show its full potential. I have been working for months already on the final exhibition at the Hidden Garden Gallery (July 14-19), a tour of the exhibition to different galleries in the Columbia Basin, and the publication of a book about the wildfires. The book is already at the printer, and I am absolutely thrilled with how it came together! But this post is not about that.
The real value of this project lies in the connections made, and the light it shines on the obvious care there is for one another. How people were there for each other during the fires. How people still are. This has been so visible throughout my engagement and collaboration with many different residents and organizations.
I was able to donate a small amount to the Slocan and New Denver Volunteer Fire Departments thanks to the postcard sales of The Art of Safe Keeping. ($1 per sold card goes to them). SIFCo, one of my sponsors, has kindly pre-ordered twenty books, of which fifteen they make available to the public by donation, so that also those with limited funds can get their copy at my exhibition. Many community members have freely donated their photographs and personal stories of the wildfires to use in the book. After the incredible participation of hundreds of people last year, sixteen selected people hand-wrote more about their precious belongings with great care, who's objects I drew for the final exhibition (which is starting to look INCREDIBLE thanks to the support of art mounter Carl Schlichting). Wide Spot and Fireweed Hub are collaborating with The Art of Safe Keeping on a community discussion with brunch, which will be offered for free to the community on July 18. And of course, there is the continued support I have received for this second phase of the project from Columbia Basin Trust (though West Kootenay Regional Arts Council's CKCA), the Slocan Valley Legacy Fund and the ReDi Grants from New Denver, Silverton, Area H and Slocan, who all believe in the value of community and art.
Can you feel the love? I certainly do! What a special Valley we live in.
