Passia Pandora and I attended the grace-gallery reception for Pamela Masik and the downtown eastside Women’s exhibition on Thursday, January 14, 2010 at grace-gallery. The following is a write up and picture of Passia and me from Malcolm Parry of the Vancouver Sun. Liza J. Lee

OPEN WIDE: As for other blooms, photographer Passia Pandora’s My Solstice Garden exhibition of flower studies (www.libertegallery.com) stands far apart from the pistils and stamens of the hugely erotic works she shows internationally. Pandora and arts organizer-promoter Liza Lee attended Rachel Zottenberg’s Main-at-Third Grace Gallery Thursday. That’s when Downtown Eastside women exhibited works they’d created for a series titled A Day In The Life devised by painter Pamela Masik with the Union Gospel Mission. Behind the Grace Gallery, a door marked only by a red-and-white light accesses a small-but-smashing bar-eatery called The Narrow. That’s not the kind of mind required for viewing Pandora’s works.

malcolmparry@shaw.ca 604-929-8456

http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/columnists/story.html?id=cc5173b4-e31f-4cdb-bbf9-6f4dfdb02166

grace-gallery presents ‘A Day In The Life’

The resultant work of the art program: The Creative Journey, created by renowned artist Pamela Masik, hosted by the Union Gospel Mission.

Masik founded this program to help women of the Downtown East Side express themselves through art. “These women are survivors,” says Masik. “I believe it is our collective responsibility to empower them to heal and grow, and live a self-sustaining, healthy lifestyle.” For Masik The Creative Journey was a natural extension of her own work. She recently completed The Forgotten series, 69 eight by ten foot portraits of women who have been missing from Vancouver’s Downtown East Side for more than a decade.

In The Creative Journey, Masik led the women through an eight week course, helping them to find their own artistic voice and create several pieces, a selection of which have been chosen to hang on the walls of GRACE. The women, many of them friends of The Forgotten came away with more than just art. “Life out there is hard, so it was good to get in off the street and express ourselves,” says Elizabeth. “We became friends, got updates from each other and supported each other every week. We’re healing together.”

© 2010 ArtConverge (ISSN 1918-9273‏)

November 22 and December 20, 2009 (11 am to 3 pm) – Discover a wide range of donated original art including photography, paintings and more at the Liberté Gallery’s artful brunch silent auction for 411 Seniors. As the owner of Liberté Gallery, Passia Pandora, aged 50+ has a mission to assist low-income seniors, who are disproportionately women at risk for malnutrition. By working with 411 Seniors, an organization that has been providing subsidized meals for elders in Vancouver for over 30 years, Passia can make a difference in her community, while receiving exposure for her cutting-edge gallery.

One in three seniors living at poverty level are at risk for malnutrition
About 11 million Canadians are 50+ (34% of the population), representing one of the fastest growing segments of the population. Baby Boomers account for close to one-third of Canada’s 33,739,900 people and many are now reaching their retirement years. The number of Canadians aged 55 to 64 — those most likely to think about retirement — will continue to have a major impact in our society, particularly with those who are elderly living in poverty.

In 2008, there were over 1.6 millions seniors (36%) who received the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) due to living in poverty. The average CPP ($5,777.52), plus Old Age Security (OAS) ($6,028) and GIS ($4,727.96) bring the total income of single low-income seniors to $16,533.48. This barely covers basic living such as nutritious meals and affordable housing.

Help low-income seniors with your chance to win a prize!
In addition to the art brunch silent auction, Liberté Gallery will be accepting cash donations in a donation box on behalf 411 Seniors. For your cash donation, you can enter your contact information into ballot boxes for your chance to win one of many donated prizes, including original works of art from Vancouver artists. Your donation will help continue to preserve the dignity and well-being of our elders living in poverty. Every donation, no matter how large or small, makes a difference in the lives of these seniors.

About 411 Seniors
411 Seniors is a vital organization that provides greatly needed programs and services to hundreds of seniors. The 411 Seniors Centre at 411 Dunsmuir Street is an accessible, multi-purpose social and recreational drop-in facility for elders 55+. The centre enjoys a strong programming base, a skilled staff and volunteer group, along with effective partnerships dedicated to serving the needs of seniors with over 40 free or low cost social, educational, recreational and drop-in programs, in addition to the core service of providing subsidized meals.

Finally, 411 Seniors provides a forward-thinking and life-enhancing support group for queer elders (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other alternative sexual lifestyles) who would otherwise be isolated and at risk for depression and suicide in their final years. Not only is this a liberal position for 411 Seniors, it is a humanitarian approach to supporting and respecting all elders, regardless of their sexual orientations.

About Liberté Gallery
Liberté Gallery (504-2050 Scotia Street, Vancouver – buzz # 165) is open every Tuesday from 4 pm to 7 pm for your convenience. Aptly named, Liberté is French for ‘liberty’, meaning ‘the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions’. The name is cosmopolitan, meaningful and yet allows for a wide interpretation of subjects. Liberté Gallery regularly exhibits Passia Pandora’s photomedia sexual portraitures that lend comparison to the late iconic Robert Mapplethorpe.

For more information on this unique Sunday art brunch fundraiser (November 22 and December 20), visit the Liberté Gallery page on Artistrun or call 604.873.5583.

Photos of the Sunday, November 22 Art Brunch:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lizajlee/sets/72157622732138915/show/

ENDNOTES:
http://www.carp.ca/community/index-chapters.cfm?documentid=3013&type=full&cityid=183
http://cansim2.statcan.gc.ca/cgi-win/cnsmcgi.pgm?Lang=E&SP_Action=Result&SP_ID=3867&SP_TYP=5&SP_Sort=1&SP_Portal=2

Liza J. Lee is the Co-founder and Blogger for Artistrun ArtConverge.

Liberté Gallery is part of the main art attractions around Vancouver.

© 2009 ArtConverge (ISSN 1918-9273‏)