Ava's charity idea for St. Stephen's Art Show

Something new has been added to this year's St. Stephen's Art Show, which is February 19 through 21. 10-year-old artist Ava Salazar, shown here with her aunt, Kathleena Salazar, came up with the idea to help raise the public's awareness of homelessness in the Grove. The project, called "Hope Floats," will involve various artists who will create an original piece of art on recycled sailboat sail cloth. The pieces will be displayed within a unique exhibit area during the weekend show and people will bid on the art through a silent auction. 100% of the proceeds will go to the cause.

In this case, the cause is well-known Grove artist Neith Nevelson, granddaughter of the famous American artist Louise Nevelson. Neith is known for her vivid color schemes and slight variations of three main subject matters (horses, nude women's bodies and male faces).

In advance of the Art Show, a public unveiling of the collection will be held on February 3 at the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church where an additional two pieces will be sold by live auction.

“I was having family dinner and talking with my step-mom about cooking for the homeless at church, [St. Stephens] and I learned that some even live in old boats patched with recycled wood and sails,” said 5th grade student Ava Salazar when asked how she came up with ‘Hope Floats’. “I asked if our art show did anything to sell art for the homeless, and when I learned it didn’t, I came up with an idea to have artists paint sails and sell them to raise money” said Ava.

Weekly team meetings by Skype have allowed Ava to recruit the artists and secure a sponsor, Bremen Sails, and media partners NBC6, and Majic 102.7 radio. Neith Nevelson, a featured artist of the project, is a Grove icon, noted as a “VanGogh of our time” and known in her heyday to be friends with the likes of Salvador Dali. Among the incredible local artists joining Neith are Claudia Scalise, Sri Prabha, Charles E. Humes, Mark Osterman, Abraham Camayd, Bill Ritzi and Carolina Salazar to name a few. Each artist will create a unique piece of art on custom cut 3 foot and 6 foot pieces of sail cloth specifically donated for Ava and this project.

“Our annual theme for the art show is ‘Art is in the Heart,’ and this year’s additional homeless humanitarian art project really resonates with that anthem,” says Daisy Lewis, Show Director. “While artists from around the country will again show their brilliance during this amazing art festival weekend, the Hope Floats exhibit, and Ava’s astounding idea and follow-through will make a very special 2011 show for me professionally and a very proud moment for our family” adds Daisy.