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Art auction to follow Voice of Hope dinner
By LINDA M. LINONIS
youngstown
The artwork includes the ethereal and the bold, and the pieces convey the artists’ take on societal conditions such as poverty, hunger and homelessness.
The art will be showcased at tonight’s 13th annual Voice of Hope dinner at Stambaugh Auditorium. The dinner is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Catholic Charities movement in the United States.
Proceeds from an art auction will benefit Catholic Charities agencies in the six counties of the Diocese of Youngstown.
Shellie Sabel, Catholic Charities development associate who focuses on fundraisers, said the century mark of Catholic Charities called for something new and different.
“We wanted to do some- thing special this year,” she said.
A silent auction of theme baskets has been successful in the last few years.
“The mission and vision of Catholic Charities is about helping people,” Sabel said.
The ministry of the organization addresses meeting basic human needs such as food and shelter, strengthening families, building communities and empowering low-income people.
“I think the artists reached into their hearts and the heart of Catholic Charities [with their artwork],” Sabel said.
The artwork that the diocese received for the project proved to be surprising and inspiring, Sabel said. “We received a range of artwork ... something to appeal to different people.”
Overall, she said she was impressed with the 20-some submissions.
Some came from church members; others were contributed by area artists.
Sabel said this new venture was a “learning process,” and if it is well- received, she may repeat it.
Probably the most unusual piece of “artwork” would be hand-painted canvas tennis shoes (women’s size 7).
They were submitted by Mary Statler of St. Joseph Church in Mogadore, Portage County.
The submission by the young artist features faces and bright colors.
“It seems to reflect Catholic Charities’ connection to families,” Sabel said, adding that the shoes are wearable.
Another piece, “Not to Be Forgotten” by Gina Weidner, conveys the message “There is still hope for us yet” in a bold cityscape design.
Generations of poverty and struggle are depicted in three photographs, one featuring an elderly woman, another with a young girl holding a machete to work in the fields and another with children standing by their home with a tin roof.
Another photo was taken at a vacation Bible school and shows a chalk drawing of the hands of God around the world.
Artwork also includes a clay piece focusing on boys tending a garden, a large chalk drawing recalling a trip to El Salvador and a wooden rendition of life in a simple village.
Before the Voice of Hope dinner, Bishop George Murry will celebrate Mass at 5:30 p.m. in St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., which is open to the public. The dinner is by reservation.
Scheduled to receive Voice of Hope Awards for their work in charity and justice on behalf of disadvantaged people in the diocese are Terry Supancic, three parishes of Ashtabula County (St. Joseph, Mother of Sorrows, Our Lady of Mount Carmel); Sisters of Charity Foundation of Canton; and Sister Ann McManamon of Humility of Mary.