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L’ARCHE OTTAWA Annual Christmas Artisan Fair: November 5th, 2011

L’Arche Ottawa is hosting its 4th Annual Local Artisan Christmas Show and Sale.

This is a juried art show and artists are selected to uphold and ensure the remarkable and unique quality that was achieved over the last three years. Come shop and enjoy live music & entertainment, a real bake sale, gift cards, art, photography, silk screening, pottery and much, much more…

This is a fundraiser with proceeds from the fair going to L’Arche community in Haiti; allowing them to continue with their work and programs as they build their presence in their local communities. Information about L’Arche Ottawa will be available at the fair and there will be a special door prize created by the members of L’Arche Ottawa.

If you have questions or would be interested in volunteer opportunities please email us at rebeccahappy@larcheottawa.org or 613-228-7136 ext: 28.

The Artisan Show and Sale will take place November 5th from 9:30 to 3 pm in collaboration with and at St. Richard’s Anglican Church, 8 Withrow Avenue, Nepean (@Merivale)

Contributing artists for the 2011 Christmas Craft Show:

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L’Arche Ottawa : People with Development Disabilities rebuilding lives in Haiti

L’Arche Ottawa is raising money for SOLIDARITY- local people with developmental disabilities helping rebuild lives in Haiti.

Last year The L’Arche Canada Foundation sent $350,000 for rebuilding the L’Arche homes and workplaces lost in Haiti’s earthquake.

Jonathan Boulet Groulx is one of the many Solidarity people in L’Arche Haiti, working hard to help rebuild the disaster struck Haiti.  He ensures special attention is paid to Haiti’s disabled population who are even more marginalized in disasters. To find out more about Jonathan’s life in Haiti – be sure to read Jonathan’s blog: www.mwenpafou.org.

All proceeds raised from SOLIDARITY go towards these types of partnerships, sustainable development and regular community support.

You can help Haiti’s disabled peoples at L’Arche Ottawa 3rd Annual Artisan Christmas Craft Sale, Saturday November 6th.This “Support Local and Buy Local” event is at St.Richard’s Anglican Church Hall (corner of Rossland Ave. and Merivale Road) from 9:30 am to 3pm.
Sales from table fees, art from L’Arche seniors, and baked goods will all go to L’Arche Haiti. Local artists will be selling their works, including: pottery, glass art, painting, photography, jewelry, braided rugs, knitting, and eco friendly textiles.

100% of the proceeds raised for SOLIDARITY are sent to the Global South from L’Arche Ottawa.

We invite you to watch the following video which was produced by Ottawa Tonite last year for L’Arche Ottawa’s 2009 Annual Artisan Christmas Craft Sale:

Watch Video

1. Scott Hagman pottery
2. Barbara Carlson digital print/collage http://www.theartofmusic.ca/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=7
3. John Benn oil landscape http://www.johnbenn.com/
4. Carol Holmes-Kerr ceramic artist
5. Melanie Cameron -ceramic jewellery
6. L’Arche Arnprior- painting/cards http://www.larche.ca/en/communities/arnprior
7. Garnobe Seniors -wooden signs and beads and cards http://www.ottawatonite.com/2009/11/larche-artists-art-and-smiles-in-a-thriving-community/
8. Gerhart Bruane -photography
9. Denise Kehoe- traditional knitwear
10. Debbie Guthrie-mixed media artist
11. Donna Baskin Debbie –painter
12. Tracey Vilbert -eco friendly napkins and clothes http://Eco-TAV.com
13. Sylvie Parisien -porcelain pots http://sunslipceramics.blogspot.com/
14. Laura Way-Interior Christmas decorations
15. Camille Lechasseur stockings/ braided rugs truffles
16. Kanaska –feather jewellery Tarot cards
17. Jane Hampson –painter
18. Hot Heads Tees-satirical tees http://www.hotheadtees.com/
19. Carol-Anne Grenier-fused glass http://idbcagrenier.spaces.live.com/

For more information e-mail: Donna Rietschlin,  L’Arche Ottawa Community Leader:  donnarietschlin@larcheottawa.org

Video courtesy: Susan Murphy and Jester Creative

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Christmas Cheer from L’Arche Ottawa Seniors

I had an unexpected and wonderful surprise this morning.

Just yesterday I’d been feeling a wee bit of the holiday blues…the darker days and cold weather tends to get to me this time of year. I was feeling a real sense of “bah humbug”.  This surprise couldn’t have come at a better time.

The doorbell rang and I was greeted by one of my newest friends, Louise. She is a member of the seniors’ group at L’Arche Ottawa, a community organization for people with developmental disabilities. I first met Louise back in November when we went down to do a story on the community as they prepared for a holiday art show. You can check out that story here.

Louise had a broad smile on her face, said a cheery “Merry Christmas!”, and proudly handed me this beautiful, hand-crafted, one of a kind wooden sign:

“Bobby did the wood burning and I did the colours,” she told me. I was totally blown away. “Merry Christmas!” she exclaimed, blew me a kiss, and walked away.

We tend to get pretty stressed this time of year. We shop too much, spend too much, eat too much, and over-commit. Hustle and bustle becomes treacherous grind. We just want it to be over, so we can finally eat our turkey leftovers and relax for a few days.

But sometimes, the real spirit of Christmas sort of just bonks you over the head. When someone takes the time to do something really special, that they have poured their heart into, just because they want to show their appreciation…THAT is what this season is all about.

Thank you, Louise, Bobby, Dorothy, and Olivette, for living from the heart and for reminding us what Christmas is all about. And thank you, Rebecca Happy, for the good work you do and for caring so much.

Merry Christmas!

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L’Arche Artists: Art and Smiles in a Thriving Community

L’Arche Ottawa is an organization dedicated to supporting adults with developmental disabilities. Each year, a group of artists from the L’Arche community hold a sale of their works, which are described as “primitive folk art” by L’Arche Coordinator Rebecca Happy. All proceeds from the event go to support a L’Arche community in Honduras.

This year’s sale is taking place on Saturday, November 14th at St. Richard’s Church, 9 Rossland Avenue in Nepean. I went down to visit the folks at L’Arche Ottawa as they worked hard to prepare for the show.

About L’Arche

L’Arche was founded in 1964 by Canadian humanitarian and social visionary, Jean Vanier. Distressed by the institutionalization and the isolation and loneliness of people with developmental disabilities, Jean Vanier invited two men from an institution to live with him in a small house. He called the house ”L’Arche,” a French word for ”the ark” in the biblical story of Noah and the flood. L’Arche grew quickly and spread around the world, attracting many young people who wanted to help and opening new homes and workshops. L’Arche began in Canada in 1969. Today, there are over 130 L’Arche communities in 34 countries on six continents. All of these communities are part of the International Federation of L’Arche Communities.  L’Arche is a unique vision of care giving and community building that fosters inclusion, understanding and belonging to individuals with developmental disabilities.

L’Arche Ottawa has been here in the capital for 37 years. Louise who you interviewed was one of the early members. We have 7 homes, a community centre 2 apartments and on senior’s club. The Granobe Seniors Club was founded 12 years ago by Olivette Garneau and Cecile Aube when they decided to retire with dignity from the working world of sheltered workshops. The vision of the club was to create a welcoming space for retired L’Arche Ottawa members to continue to participate and contribute to the larger Ottawa community while creating and maintaining supportive relationships of friendship. Aging with dignity is something our fast paced society is quickly loosing sight of. The activities of Garnobe seniors club are guided by the likes and desires of its members so that they can keep the aging process dignified.

Hereis the list of the artists selling their wares at Saturday’s show:

1. Bob Mitchell, Louise Leblanc, Olivette Garneau, Dorothy Emberg, Rebecca Happy : Garnobe Seniors Club

2. Kera Willis : Blue Riot Gifts

3. Karen Thomas

4. Barbara Carlson

5. John Benn

6. Faye Dumouchel

7. Bea Satar

8. Deborah Risto

9. Deborah and Niama Coe: Niama Soaps

10. Scott Haggerman

11. Joyce Berry

12. Suzanna Sullivan

13. Sarah Futterer and Carrie MacKay

14. Bonnie Basker

15. Heidi Helm: Urbanomic

16. Carolyne Huber: CforU Jewelry

17. Theda Phoenix

18. Trish Rossiter

19. Tim Hunt: Mobius T-Shirts

20. Melanie Cameron and Marissa

21. Crazy for Almonds

Musicians who are offering their music to provide great ambiance:

1.Kera Willis and John Lloyd: One Big Smile : John Lloyd and Kera Willis are members of OneBigSmile, an Ottawa-based collective. The band was formed several years ago and got its name from a description of a performance it gave. OBS plays music that is very much like a folk-rock door with bluegrass hinges swinging open to let anybody in. The set list often includes songs from any era and any style in the history of music.

2.Theda Phoenix

3.Steve Schellenberg

4.Kitchisippi United Church Big River Band

5. Nathanael Lacrochette :12pm

who knows maybe someone else may drop by for a song or two.

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