Art for Palestine charity event

All donations from the event will go directly to ‘Kiwi Trust for Palestinian Children Relief’ and ‘Doctors Without Borders’. 

Event organiser Lily Wenmoth says buyers are to donate directly to the fund, so no cash passes through their hands, and the money goes directly where it is needed most.

Price points of work sold range from $50 to $300, with items like postcards available at a lesser price. Lily says there was an overwhelming amount of donated art that couldn’t make it into this event, so there are talks of another potential charity event in the future. 

“I started this event because it can be hard for people to donate money, and if you get a prize out of it it’s always good.. Palestinian relief is really, really important.” 

She says the putting together of the charity event was inspired by her older sister who ran an Art for Palestine event in Wellington, where she lives. Lily says the inner younger sister energy is what drove her to go through with the creation of the event.

Artwork below credited to: Lily Wenmoth @Mothmade_jewels, Tessa Wyse @luuuunaaaaaa._, Lara Kate Marshall @lkm_is_larakatemarshall

Hatem Alzaanin at ‘Kiwi Trust for Palestinian Children Relief’ says they are thrilled about the charity event and grateful for the support it represents. They say it's heartwarming to see communities come together to help make a difference in the lives of those who are facing hardships. They look forward to sharing this experience with everyone involved and are hopeful for the positive impact it will have.

“Currently, our work focuses on emergency relief projects, especially food parcels distribution and cooking hot meals to the displaced children and their families who have been badly affected by the war.” 

The art on display has been donated by over 35 Aotearoa artists, primarily from Ōtautahi - Christchurch and Ōhinehau - Lyttelton. She says some artwork references Palestine, but some pieces do not. Artists have been invited to donate existing works, although some have felt motivated to make work specifically for the show.

Donated art includes jewellery, textiles, paintings, prints, ceramics and postcards, which will be available to purchase. 

Artist Cahaya Milne, says her woodcut printmaking art took around two hours to carve, and the printmaking just a short five minutes. The cause is something she was more than happy to volunteer her time to. She says her Pray for Plaestine work was inspired by a print online about free Palestine. 

“I personally decided to put my artwork in the show for the funbdraiser because I am a strong believer in Free Palestine.

"I think the genocide is not a question of Hamas (a political faction abbreviated from Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya), it’s a genocide and it’s bad.” 

Opening night is in Christchurch, Friday 5th April 6pm at ‘The Heads’ 24 Canterbury Street, Lyttelton with the event running all weekend until Sunday.

The open night will see speeches from Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter, and Christchurch city councillor Tyla Harrison Hunt, as well as kindly donated food from ‘Cakes By Anna’ and ‘Tom’s’.