Self-taught Kingston artist Evan Sharma partnered with CAN Fund this month, donating a painting that was auctioned in support Canadian Athletes.
The 14-year-old’s painting titled “From the Backcountry to Sky High“, which was started at 7000 feet at top of Sun Peaks in British Columbia, raised $6,200 for CAN Fund for Canadian athletes that include those who attended the Winter Games in South Korea in February as well as for Summer Game and Paralympic competitors.
“I wanted to give people, who might not ever be able to be up in the mountains, the feeling of the freedom that you feel when you are skiing above the trees,” Sharma said in a release. “It’s such a privilege to get to share my experience with the world while also supporting Canada’s best athletes.”
Sharma, who gained national attention when he became the youngest artist to present their work at Toronto’s Artist Project at the age of 12. A competitive ski racer, he had already raised more than $20,000 for charities through his art prior to this auction, including a painting to raise funds for the Limestone District School Board. (video)
CAN Fund is a not for profit organization created to fill a funding gap and give Canadian athletes the financial support they need to train and compete for Canada. It has raised more than $30 million to support athletes representing Canada in global competitions.
“We were thrilled to have an artist of Evan’s caliber donate his work to CAN Fund,” said Jane Roos, founder of CAN Fund. “As a painter and a skier himself, Evan embodies our mission of talent supporting talent, and represents a new generation of artists establishing Canada’s place on the global stage.”
CAN Fund reports it was responsible for supporting 80 percent of the athletes competing for Canada this winter. Fellow Kingstonian Gord Downie and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among those who have also collaborated with Jane Roos to support CAN Fund in the past.
So much fun painting on top of @SunPeaksResort. And thanks to @CBCNews for covering it! Here is the final video: https://t.co/TVFUc53uqz #artwork #skiing #artists @mrd_on_cbc pic.twitter.com/QHCwEjIi6H
— evan sharma (@evansharmaart) December 21, 2017
Watch Evan begin his painting in the mountains at 7000 feet
It was great to meet all the AMAZING #olympians and raise funds for @CANFUND. It was an awesome experience being at your event in #Toronto! Your olympic stories were incredibly inspiring @J16H @b_maclean @SportIsAllOver Surprised at how heavy the medals were! pic.twitter.com/TMYwFy5zIH
— evan sharma (@evansharmaart) February 23, 2018
More information about Evan Sharma can be found at www.evansharma.com and you can learn about CAN Fund at www.MyCANFund.ca
Image: Video screencap
