The art exhibition is in its penultimate venue at Gibsons.  To date it has been shown in 12 centres in BC and Alberta raising funds and awareness for African grandmothers.  In each venue, the grandmothers groups hosting the show have invited their communities and created special events.  Funds raised in the events surrounding the show have now reached +$30,000 and approximately 10,000 viewers have seen this moving exhibition.
The show will be in Gibsons for the month of February at the Gibsons Public Art Gallery and then it comes back to Vancouver.  The Vancouver and Richmond grandmothers groups will host it at the Unitarian Church at 49th and Oak St.  With an opening reception, craft sale and chocolate tasting, their events should draw a crowd.  
Meanwhile committees of Royal City Gogos are hard at work planning the reception, the mechanics of the auction, and the publicity campaign.  It's exciting but daunting.  We want to maintain the high standard we have set for events, make sure our guests have FUN and make tons of money for African grandmothers.  Tickets will go fast!  It's a good thing we have online bidding.  I've chosen 2-3 pieces I would love to have in my home.  I HOPE the bidding doesn't go beyond my budget.  Watch this space.

A friend commented yesterday, "You must be very busy with your charity work."  I gave her a quick rely, "Yes, we work very hard..." but since then I have been reflecting on the difference between charity and solidarity. 
Charity is "a generous action or donation given to the poor" whereas solidarity is "a union arising from common responsibility and interests, a community of feeling and purposes."  We do not take action in support of African grandmothers from a mindset of charity as in a donor/recipient relationship where the bounty of the donor is shared with a grateful recipient.  Rather, we are the grateful ones -- grateful to be part of the triumph of the human spirit exemplified each day by African grandmothers; grateful for the opportunity to give meaning and shape to our days.  We are grateful to act in sisterhood with each other and African grandmothers in nurturing the generation of children who are the future hope of Africa.  This is our common responsibility, feeling and purpose.  So the reply to the comment should have been, "Yes, we are very busy.  Busy in solidarity on two continents.  Join us!"

It's exciting to open gogosartshow@gmail.com each day and read about artists who are entering work and groups who want to host Celebrating African Grandmothers.  Everyone has fond memories of the stunning work, the response of the community and the awareness raised by Turning the Tide.  "Can we have the show in September? " " Is the show available for February?" "I am going to do a soft sculpture."  "I'm making a clay sculpture of the side view of a woman's head."  "I'm painting." Artists and grandmother groups are getting on board from the BC Islands to the Prairies.  
Canadian Quilter has asked for an article.  Pacific Spirit Quilters want to know more!  Sheryl Mackay from CBC's North by Northwest will emcee the gala auction.  It's all coming together!  Have you started your piece yet?