Italy has been and remains an extremely special place for me. It’s where my art career started, is the inspiration for a great deal of my art, and is the country I default to for vacationing and exploring.  Waking up to the news on August 24th of the horrific earthquake in Umbria/Marche/Lazio regions was deeply affecting. I’ve visited these regions, but have not been to the specific towns that took the brutal brunt of the devastation. I wanted to do something.

I’ve discovered some local relief and rebuilding funds started within the Italian-Canadian community, and I want to help in some small way. And all I wanted to do last week and since, is paint Italy. Paint the images of these regions. So I’ve put the two together, and I’ve created a Mini piece of a sign of strength from the region, called “The Lion of Norcia”. From a photo I took in 2009 while in Norcia (14 km from the quake epicenter, but all their reinforced buildings survived), I love the two expressive lion sculptures that sit on the staircase of the Commune di Norcia (City Hall). The lion symbolizes pride and strength, two characteristics that I know the Italian people will draw on to move forward in rebuilding their beautiful villages.

All proceeds from the sale of the original and 25 Limited Edition prints will go to two Central Italy Earthquake Relief funds. I will be offering these pieces first this weekend at Artfest Toronto, Distillery District. If the original or the prints do not sell out this weekend, I will be offering them on my Etsy shop as of September 6. 

#49 – The Lion of Norcia