Would you purchase beautifully painted rocks if the money was going towards the preservation of aspects of T&T’s heritage? If you’re interested, then on October 21 and 22 Citizens For Conservation (CFC) will host a silent auction titled Rock D’ Art, at Queen’s Hall, St Ann’s. The group said in a release that the purpose of the auction is to raise funds to give grants to people who own and live in heritage vernacular buildings, to help them maintain their homes as well as to keep running educational programmes on T&T’s built, natural and cultural heritage. The auction will feature unique pieces of art that combine the beauty of nature with the artistic skills of some of the region’s best-known artists like LeRoy Clarke, Peter Minshall, Beverley Fitzwilliam Harries, Anthony Timothy, Barbara Jardine and Stuart Hahn.
Together, these artists will showcase a collection of painted rocks that are said to be one of a kind and a necessary addition to every art lover’s collection, and worth quite some money. They are also a unique and perfect gift for anyone with a deep appreciation for beauty. In an interview CFC member Pauline Philip said members of the group started painting smooth stones that they collected from a Palo Seco beach to be used as doorstops and paperweights to raise funds for projects. “The idea was originally raised by executive member Rosemary Jardine last year. Someone then suggested, why not ask all the artists to paint and sign some stones and we can auction them as rocks of art? “This we did and the idea was met with great enthusiasm and support, especially when we announced that the money raised would be used as grants to homeowners who we have encouraged to keep their beautiful Victorian homes intact and to provide bursaries to those scholarship winners who need help with transport and warm clothing,” said Philip. She said so far the group has collected 80 painted stones, completely varied in subject and style.
Contact Citizens for Conservation via e-mail at conservationtandt@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page: Citizens for Conservation T&T.