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Arthur's Gift to Doctors Without Borders for Haiti Relief

January 28, 2010

Victoria, BC - Awake at 5:00am in tranquil Cowichan Bay, on Vancouver Island, BC First Nations artist Arthur Vickers knew he needed to reach out to his fellow human beings suffering in Haiti. Thinking of how he could help the most people with his efforts, his mind went to his art.

The eagle is adorned by feathers that enable it to fly high; it can rise above any storm.

The feather is divided into two parts, a light part and a dark part. This represents daylight and darkness, male and female, joy and sorrow, health and sickness and life and death. It tells the story of all living things.

The precious symbolism of this feather, to me, is the inspiration of this creation.

Amongst a diverse collection of west coast inspired art, he has five original gold leafed works that depict a large eagle's feather that tells a poignant story about humanity and the leadership we can all take in this world we share together.

In First Nation traditions the feather has two sides, a light side and a dark side, symbolically representing amongst many things, the good and the bad, sickness and health, the past and the present. It also represents the choices we make every moment of every day when we are acting as leaders in our communities, in all corners of the world.

As Vickers watched the devastation on TV he could not stop thinking about the people of Haiti and what they are having to endure. He soon decided that he would donate one original piece of art to five different individuals or corporations that donate $20,000, (the value of each gold leafed work), to Doctors Without Borders/ MSF for aid efforts in Haiti, an organization he has been working with for the past week. Vickers' gift will honour each of the donors and the compassion they feel to the people of Haiti.

The Federal Government has announced that it will match any individual contribution to Haiti, such as the targeted work that Doctors Without Borders is doing there, until February 12, so the $100,000 that could be raised from Vickers' works could result in up to $200,000 worth of aid.

Giving to those in need has always been a central part of who Vickers is. "As a human being the impact I feel as I watch the devastation and hear the cries for help and the pleas for assistance is so deeply heart wrenching," says Vickers. "I just cannot imagine what it must be like to feel that level of despair. The physical, mental and spiritual pain that they are having to endure is beyond belief."

"Through my gift I would like to inspire others to become involved with the aid efforts in Haiti and I believe that Doctors Without Borders embodies what I feel we must strive to achieve," says Vickers. "They are committed to "the right to humanitarian assistance" and they give of themselves fully and without compromise or compensation."

Vickers believes that we are all humanity and very much interconnected. "I want to inspire through my offerings a reflection and perhaps a reminder that we must do whatever we can through giving of ourselves and our resources," says Vickers. "We all have so much to be thankful for and we need to care for each other now more than ever. What the Haitian people are going through is inconceivable. They are us, we are all humanity."

Any individuals or corporations interested in donating are asked to call Arthur Vickers at 250-748-7650. This donation would be coordinated through Vickers and Doctors Without Borders, with the donation being made directly to the charity.

Giaxsixva Huych'qu Thank you,

Arthur

External Links

"Artist donates works to Haiti relief" - Times Colonist
www.timescolonist.com

"Vickers golden for Haitian relief effort" - Cowichan News Leader and Pictorial
www.bclocalnews.com

Doctors Without Borders
www.msf.ca/news-media

To learn more about Canada's Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund work
and donation matching visit:
www.acdi-cida.gc.ca