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This artwork by Robbie Craig hangs in the Montrose Cultural Centre. (photo by Curtis Galbraith)
LOCAL ART

Artists Robbie Craig, Grant Berg collaborating in support of Sunrise House

Oct 18, 2019 | 5:30 AM

Yellowknife-based artist Robbie Craig will be in Grande Prairie at the Grant Berg Gallery this weekend for his annual show and sale.

Artist and owner of the gallery Grant Berg says this trip will be different than Craig’s typical visits.

“What he wanted to do on this trip is to find a project that we could collaborate on and find a charity that could benefit from us artistically. So, what Robbie proposed is that since we both work in recreating trees; me through sculpture, him through painting, that we identify a tree here in Grande Prairie and we recreate that.”

The pair decided to fundraise for the Sunrise House in a way that could highlight the strength and courage of the shelter’s users.

“When you look at the pine trees in and around Grande Prairie, they’re weathered, and that weather forms and shapes them into unique and beautiful things that stand out from others. And when you look at the resilience of these kids that go through places like this, they struggle, but they come out even more beautiful and more dynamic.”

They will produce a painting and a sculpture of the tree and sell them with a portion of the proceeds going to Sunrise House. As well, Craig will be donating 12 paper prints to the organization for future fundraisers, and a large canvas print to hang in their facility.

Berg adds that the recent 10th anniversary of the Big Hearts for Big Kids fundraiser held by Tenille Townes is what inspired them to choose Sunrise House.

Craig has a substantial following of over 82,000 on Facebook. He is also the artist behind the Bear mural in the Montrose Cultural Centre.

Craig will be available to meet in person at the Grant Berg Gallery on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.