Honduras and UNC are 1,550 miles apart, but on Saturday, they will be in the same room.
UNC Habitat for Humanity will host a fundraising art show, ‘Mixed Concrete,’ on Saturday that will benefit the group’s spring break trip to Honduras.
The show will feature a silent auction of artwork donated by UNC students.
“There are lots of really talented people on campus, and we wanted to do a fundraiser that was outside of the box,” Emily Lucas, Honduras trip team member and art show organizer, said.
Students and members of the community are invited to place bids on artwork, speak with the artists and hear from Honduras team members. Small pieces of art will also be on display for immediate purchase.
“The show is an opportunity for students, friends, and the community to appreciate artwork and support a great cause,” said Burgess Robinson, Honduras trip co-leader and art show organizer.
Junior Jeremy Bass said donating his work to the show was an opportunity to claim a sense of purpose for his art.
“People question the role of art,” said Bass, whose donation includes two silk-screen prints and a painting that is a remake of the Last Supper.
“But this has a dual sense of purpose, aesthetic and helping others.”
Robinson said he also saw multiple themes within the fundraiser. These themes were the inspiration behind his and Lucas’s title for the show, ‘Mixed Concrete.’
“’Mixed Concrete’ represents a duality of the art show,” Robinson said.
From one perspective, it is about the physical process of building homes in rural areas of Honduras, Robinson said.
“They have to literally mix the concrete they use to build,” he said.
‘Mixed Concrete’ also represents the diversity of the 50 pieces of art that will be on display.
“We wanted a variety of pieces,” Lucas said. “We accepted all kinds of art and we didn’t turn down any artists.”
The pieces are on display in Open Eye Café through Saturday.
Junior Stephanie Nelli said her painted canvas collage is a good parallel for the mission of Habitat for Humanity.
“The [collage’s] light versus dark theme matches well with Habitat because [the organization] is about helping people in darkness,” Nelli said.
Jean DeSaix, Habitat for Humanity faculty adviser, said the art show and the Honduras trip are evidence of the remarkable things UNC students can do.
“You will see great art produced by students to help a great cause,” she said.
“It doesn’t get better than that.”
The silent auction will take place at Open Eye Café in Carrboro. It will last from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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