Spotlight on NL Artists in Action - The Wildfire Project

Last summer, when devastating wildfires ripped through communities around the province (particularly the Conception Bay North area), many people came together to offer help and comfort in whatever way they could — whether it be donating to relief efforts, donating meals to local firefighters, providing evacuees with emergency supplies and helping operate reception centres.

While watching the events unfold online, local visual artist Valentina Holden wanted to do something to help, too. It wasn't long before an idea started to form around how she could put her creative skills to use, offering comfort in her own, unique way.

"I just kept seeing so many people talking about how scared they were and what they didn't know. It's a terrible position to be in, in limbo and not knowing anything. And it's their whole life, and in some cases, livelihood too," she says.

Artist Valentina Holden at her St. John’s studio.

While she couldn't help battle the blaze on the ground, Valentina says, she thought about what she could offer and it wasn't long before a lightbulb went off.

"I was like, 'I can paint," she recalls. "So I thought, well, maybe I'll offer to do a painting of someone's house if they lose their house."

On August 12, she shared her idea on social media and asked her artist friends to let her know if they were interested in creating free paintings for those who had lost their homes in the fires.

Very quickly, the idea grew. An old high school friend who lived in Nova Scotia, who had lost her own house and pets in a wildfire in 2023, reached out to tell Valentina how much it had meant when an artist there surprised her with a painting of her pets. So Valentina revised her offer to include pets as well, hoping to honour not just people's homes, but the lives and memories they held.

Her initial idea was met with "immediate yeses" she says and on August 13, she created the public Facebook group "NL Artists in Action - The Wildfire Project." Within two days, about 40 artists had signed on to be part of the project, with more soon expressing interest.

Placentia artist Betty Whittle completed the first painting for NL Artists in Action - The Wildfire Project.

Drawing on her background in social determinants of health and experience coordinating large national and provincial projects in Vancouver, Valentina developed registration forms for both artists and families, letters of understanding, and connected everything through spreadsheets to help manage matches and requests.

As of today, 61 artists from across the province (and several from Ontario with ties to the province) have signed on to volunteer with the project, 11 artworks have been completed (consisting of nine homes and two pets), 35 are in progress (in addition to a hooked rug that's being completed) and 58 registration forms have been received from families and individuals requesting a piece of artwork (additionally, individuals can request a piece of artwork on a loved one's behalf).

In some cases, artists have had to create paintings of homes from limited or pieced-together photographs, adding another layer of care and creativity to an already emotional process.

Embree artist Keith Foss painted the second piece for NL Artists in Action - The Wildfire Project (featuring a home in Adams Cove).

The process is simple: families or individuals who'd like a piece of artwork completed register with the project, artists sign on to volunteer, the family or individual selects their preferred artist and finally, the artwork is created and gifted.

Valentina says the project is ongoing and hopes more artists will jump on board. Ultimately, through the NL Artists in Action project, she hopes to offer something tangible, beautiful and deeply personal to those who are rebuilding their lives.

Click here to learn more about NL Artists in Action - The Wildfire Project, or to get involved as an artist or request a piece of artwork.

Likewise, you can email: nlartistsinaction@gmail.com