Sandy Belock-Phippen

Posted: 14 October 2005

Boston artist dedicates her October show to Gulf Coast hurricane victims.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Support

Sandy Belock painting

A Gallery of Compassion

Painter Sandy Belock-Phippen had no idea the direction her solo show would take when she began planning it earlier this year. Inspired by the theme of water and fire, she painted furiously throughout the spring and summer—and then Hurricane Katrina hit.

“The images and stories that have emerged since the hurricane devastated the Gulf States have had a powerful impact upon me,” she explained. “Suddenly the idea of water and fire took on a different kind of realty, one dangerous and brutal.” And her show had a new purpose.

“Like many watching the tragedy unfold, I wanted to help in a direct and personal way,” said Sandy, who immediately called Oxfam and pledged to donate 20% of the proceeds from the sale of her paintings to benefit relief and recovery work.

Titled “Water and Fire,” the show is on exhibit through October 28 at the SOWA Artists Guild in Boston’s South End. For more information, call 978-930-4336 or sbelock@comcast.net.

Was Oxfam in your backyard? Send your story to info@oxfamamerica.org, or call 617-728-2464.