Opening Reception: October 26, 2018
Closing Reception: November 23, 2018
Show Closing: December 12, 2018
WHQR Public Radio is excited to announce the newly renovated MC Erny Gallery at WHQR will host the opening reception on Friday, October 26, from 6 – 9 pm for Magical India and the Girls of Homes of Hope, paintings and sketches by Todd Carignan. Guests are invited to meet the artist and the WHQR staff and on-air personalities and representatives from Homes of Hope while enjoying great food and wine. There is an additional reception on Friday, November 23, 2018, and the show will remain on display until Monday, December 17, 2018. A portion of the proceeds from any sale of art benefits WHQR and Homes of Hope.
Magical India and the Girls of Homes of Hope, paintings and sketches by Todd Carignan:
On a four thousand mile trip in 2017—by plane, car, and ox cart—Todd immersed himself in the beauty and culture of India to bring back iconic images of places both well-known and those discovered by an artist’s eye. Not only will you sit with the pilgrims on the banks the Ganges and stare awestruck at the Taj Mahal, you will experience the breathtaking beauty of the countryside and visit bustling markets. But there is more: a deeply personal portrayal of the brave girls, many of whom once lived on the mean streets of India, but who now are safe in a Home of Hope. His intimate portrayal of the girls and their daily activities vividly brings to life the crucial work of Homes of Hope in rescuing, housing and educating girls who are the poorest of the poor.
Homes of Hope was started in 2006 by Paul and Tracy Wilkes of Wilmington after they found Reena, a six year old girl in Kochi, India, who had been partially blinded to make her a “better beggar.” She was among 70 girls sleeping on the concrete floor of a poor orphanage and the Wilkes vowed to provide her with a real home and a better future. There are now 12 Homes of Hope throughout India, with over 1,000 orphaned, marginalized, disabled, and HIV-positive girls in residence.
About the Artist:
Todd is well known in Wilmington through his many commissioned portraits and shows at New Elements, Caprice Bistro, and Spectrum. He has taught art lessons for many years at the Cameron Art Museum and is a member the Portrait Society of America. His painting “Divinia” was selected for the 2017 National Exhibition of the Oil Painters of America.
