Art for Humanity

From Arts in Guelph - September/October, 2006

When well-known humanitarian Stephen Lewis comes to Guelph's River Run Centre on September 15, 2006, he will be giving a lecture in support of local Dr. Anne-Marie Zajdlik's efforts to raise $1 million for an AIDS Clinic in Lesotho in Southern Africa. At the same time, local potter Heather Dayomd will be on hand selling the 200 tea bowls that she has crafted especially for the occasion. She will donate all proceeds from these sales to the Masai for Africa project.

It was after hearing Stephen Lewis's earlier Massey Lectures - when he spoke of the ravages of the AIDS pandemic in Africa, how it is killing millions of women and leaving millions of children orphans - that Heather Daymond "knew she had to do something to help in the fight against AIDS." As a functional potter, she believes that "handmade work establishes connectedness between people over time and space." She hopes that the people who use these tea bowls, which are cups without handles, will be reminded of the work and dedication of Stephen Lewis and Anne-Marie Zajdlik in their fight against AIDS in Africa, and the continuing need for supporting their efforts.

Tickets for the September 15 Guelph for Africa event (including the Stephen Lewis lecture, African music, drumming, as well as the sale of Heather Daymond's tea bowls) are available through the River Run Centre Box Office at 519-763-3000 or www.riverrun.ca. For more information about the Masai project, visits www.masaicentre.ca.