A local artist wanted to do something to show her support for Ukrainians forced to leave their country and let her artistic mind take over.
Linda Laforge said it was while watching the news that she felt the need to help the people of Ukraine in some way following the Russian invasion.
“I’m seeing these families, parents, kids and grandparents trying to get out of an actual war zone and I’m just imagining what it would be like here,” Laforge says.
“The equivalent would be the U.S. wanting one of our province’s to be a state, right? It’s so hard to even imagine,” she added.
Not only was she a working member of the Barrie Arts Committee and a founding member and organizer for Word Up; Laforge also has 25 years of experience in graphic design. She took that knowledge to create a digital painting of a sunflower.
As the national flower of Ukraine, the sunflower has become a symbol for people who support the country as they face down Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces.
“I donated a little bit, but that didn’t feel like enough. You can say prayers for them, but that may not feel like enough, so I wanted to get some wearable art out there and get that money to where it helps, that’s good,” Laforge said.
“I’ve seen a lot of shirts out there with the Ukraine flag or a sunflower, but it doesn’t mean they’re doing anything to help what is going on,” she added. “I wanted to both wear and create something to show support, but also give money to the cause.”
Made with a Celtic design, which cuts to Laforge’s own cultural heritage, she designed an intricate knot at the centre seed disc.
There are nine repeats in the Celtic design, representing completion, culmination of wisdom and experience, with an energy of both big endings and new beginnings.
Money raised through sales will help get Ukrainian refugees to safety. The Barrie artist is aiming to sell at least 200 shirts, donating 100 per cent of the earnings to the Canadian Ukraine Foundation.
More information is available at LindaLaforge.com or on RedBubble.com.
