A local artist is holding a fundraiser for evacuees because she's never seen anything like the Cariboo wildfires.
Betty Kovacic, social justice artist and CNC instructor, wants to open her home to the public to showcase a great majority of her art, including some early pieces that have never been available for sale.
The Art Sale to Aid Wildfire Evacuees will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 4034 Cormack Cres., with partial proceeds going to non-profit societies that aid evacuees as well as the Two Rivers Gallery, which supports regional artisans.
"With the exception of some family things, everything will be available for sale," Kovacic said.
"In my more than 30-year art career I have never offered my work at a discount to the public before but never in my life has B.C. been in such a state of emergency."
Recently, Kovacic experienced some life changes and will soon be moving from her current home to a rural location, still in Prince George, where she'll be starting a new chapter of her life with her fiance. She will host a studio warming once she settles into her new digs as she continues to teach at CNC.
"I'm lucky I'm moving into a home that's warm and comfortable and safe while so many have lost everything," Kovacic said.
That's what started her thinking about how she could help wildfire evacuees in the province.
"I know some people are complaining about the smoke but, gee, we have our homes, we have our animals and I would really just like to do something to help," she said.
Kovacic has always been socially conscious, most notably taking on the issue of murdered and missing women with her exhibit called A Room Full of Missing Women exhibited at the Two Rivers Galery in 2007.
When she sells one of her bigger art pieces, she usually donates a portion of the proceeds to whichever cause is reflected in the theme of the piece, so she's supported a variety of causes during her career.
"So it makes sense to me that I can now use my art to help others," Kovacic said.
What will be available for sale during the fundraising event is a portion of her life's work.
"A lot of my early pieces, I never did have them for sale," she added.
"They've never been available so now I thought I could take the early pieces and offer them at prices that I would've asked for when they were created."
Kovacic knows that selling her pieces might be difficult for her.
"When I look at my art I see the story of my life," she said.
"So some of those pieces - the ones I never offered for sale - and now I am offering for sale - there's a bit of emotion happening there for sure but it's all for good and I'm actually really happy about it. Conflicted at times, but happy about it because I'd really love to be able to donate and help the wildfire evacuees."
