It’s a good time and it’s a chance to maybe do a little good.
Amid flowing beer and a bounty of perogies at Leigh Square, Sunday’s 15th annual B.C. Polish Festival is set to include an art auction to support Ukraine.
“The starting prices are affordable to make sure we sell them,” explained event co-ordinator and Polonez Tri-City Polish Association B.C. vice-president Honorata “Hana” Kostka.
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The auction is set to feature 15 artists who have donated a total of 57 works of art. The association hasn’t picked a charity yet but is considering the Maple Hope Foundation, according to Kostka.
Two of the artists
With work that ranges from a Barcelona fish market to an underground parking lot beneath a perfectly manicured park, Agata Teodorowicz brings a wealth of knowledge to her oil-on-canvas paintings. For the last three decades, the Poland-born artist has done her best to share that knowledge, frequently making the trip from Coquitlam to Port Moody to teach art classes.
Artist Juliana Laskowska has pledged to donate an acrylic-on-canvas painting titled European Dream to the auction.
“Please come out and show your support for Ukraine!” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Food and music
Running from 1 to 9 p.m., the outdoor party is set to feature Polish folk dancers and Ukrainian dancers as well as live music that ranges from classical to rock to Romani music.
Five-piece Polish cover band Hey Ziuta is also set to take the stage.
“It’s new things and it’s the old things which people like and expect,” Kostka said.
Besides three types of beer for the grown-ups, the festival is also set to feature a market with crafts.
