"A Brush of Hope" Auction

“A Brush of Hope” auction is live – for the next ten days, from now ‘til midnight EST on November 8: http://bit.ly/croweboh2017

The Foundation illuminates this “Opportunity to own an ORIGINAL, one of a kind piece of art by Allison Crowe. All proceeds will go to support the valuable work of The Kidney Foundation of Canada by allowing us to continue our patient services programs, education and awareness initiatives and life saving research. These programs and services enable us to improve the lives of the 1 in 10 Canadians who are living with or affected by kidney disease.”

Allison’s contribution – on 8 x 10” canvas board, signed – is a painting of an American Avocet – a bird that Winters on the coast.

Hang out in “A Brush of Hope” gallery – https://www.ebay.ca/usr/kidneyfoundationofcanada - enjoy, and bid on, paintings by Allison, Bif Naked, Tim Fox, Bret Hart, Elizabeth May and more Canucks in support of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Atlantic Branch.

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Emily Dickinson

Unstable

Robert Plant, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Joe Cocker, Ann and Nancy Wilson (Heart), Eddie Vedder… visceral rock singers of legend.

 

Among Allison Crowe’s early studio recording experiences was a kind invitation from “Her Royal Majesty’s Records”, the label started by Canada’s own rock/punk/poet icon, Bif Naked. Naked’s manager and HRMR co-founder, music industry veteran Peter Karroll remarked upon first hearing the island-based musician: “She is reminiscent of some of the great women vocalists who shaped rock music in the late '60s and early '70s. Allison's emotional delivery is unique in today's music."

 

Here’s “Unstable” - one of the songs Allison Crowe performed in those days with her bandmates Dave Baird (bass) and Kevin Clevette (drums). It’s recorded in White Rock, BC’s Turtle studios by Larry Anschell (who’s captured music of Bif, Pearl Jam, Sarah McLachlan ++).

The accompanying visual is excerpted from an experimental 1928 film version of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1839 short story, “The Fall of the House of Usher”. Directed and photographed by James Sibley Watson, Jr. – it’s a cinematic adaptation Watson co-wrote with Melville Webber (who also designed the sets for this American avant-garde piece). An early scenario for the film was written by poet and essayist+ e.e. cummings.

A Brush of Hope 2012 ~ October 18 - 28

Allison Crowe's painting of the Northern Lights shining over Gros Morne National Park - ready to be shipped to the Kidney Foundation of Canada, for inclusion in its "A Brush of Hope" campaign. NB if you open up the full foto, discerning cultural critic, historian and wiener dog, "Linkers" can be spotted appraising things, in a characteristic, one-ear-back, pose of concentration.

For the next 10 days, October 18 – 28, 2012, the Foundation’s eBay gallery displays more than 100 artworks - all proceeds from the sale of which benefit kidney research in Canada. Since its inception, more than $100,000 has been raised for the cause by this artful approach.

In this year’s gallery Allison’s “Northern Lights” hangs with creations by a wide range of Canucks, including: a meditative rocker who helped Allison get her start in recording music – Bif Naked; Food Country chef Michael Smith; wrestling’s Bret “Hitman” Hart; musician and man of letters, Leonard Cohen; comedians Elvira Kurt, Ron James and Brent Butt; New York Islander hockey centre, John Tavares; and the Kidney Foundation’s own Linda Garwood.

Here's a link directly to Allison's painting in the eBay auction gallery:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Allison-Crowe-Original-Painting-Kidney-Foundation-Canada-Brush-Hope-/110966123721
And, here’s a link to Allison’s song, “Northern Lights”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmSs7Apu9Cs