'Some hugs and some paint': Local artists rally around painter after fire destroys artwork
A local artist is starting from scratch after a fire burnt down his garage with his supplies and artwork inside.
Luckily, rebuilding and rebounding won't be as hard for painter and illustrator Jared Robinson after an outpouring of support from the art community.
Twenty original paintings and more than 300 prints were destroyed when Robinson's garage went up in flames on May 25.
Robinson said he was shocked when police told him the fire was connected to a series of arsons in the Westmount Neighbourhood.
“It guts you," he said. "And it also kind of gives you that feeling of violation almost like someone breaking into your house.”
For more than seven years, Robinson has been involved with the Night of Artists Gallery in Bonnie Doon Mall. It's a close-knit community of people who share a passion for art, and founder Phil Alain said they wanted to help.
“It was devastating to see the losses that he had," Alain said. "And he said, "All I really care about is if I maybe get some hugs and some paint.'
"I said 'Well, you need more than that.'”
Painter and illustrator Jared Robinson brought the only painting to survive a fire to his art show fundraiser on Saturday. (Marek Tkach/CTV News Edmonton)
Alain knows what it's like to need some support, and Saturday the Night of Artists Gallery held an all-day fundraiser for Robinson.
“Four years ago I lost my wife to cancer and the whole art community just surrounded me and I know how amazing that feeling is," Alain said. "Jared is just such a warm loving guy, I knew I just had to do something to help him out.”
Robinson's own work took centre stage at the event, and alongside his most recent pieces, hung the only artwork to survive the fire.
“They threw me this show and said you know what, we're going to highlight you and we'll see if we can get some other people to kind of help encourage and support and it's been huge," Robinson said.
A GoFundMe set up for Robinson had also raised around $3,200.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.