Artists from Montreal and beyond have been coming together every year to display their creations for a cause at the “Art by the Water” exhibition.
For their 17th edition, the team is ready to raise funds for the Liam Foundation.
“Liam is a young boy battling a rare disease – mitochondrial – POLG,” said Audrey Riley, artist and founder of the vernissage. “His father, Kevin Reason has been working tirelessly raising awareness and fundraising to help his son and other children with this devastating disease.”
“If you have a love of art, this is the event you should attend,” said Kevin James Reason, Founder of the Liam Foundation. “You will be supporting local artists along with supporting a Montreal based Foundation that helps kids around the world.”
An exhibition with a cause: Montreal’s ‘Art by the Water’ celebrates 15 years
What started with six friends who painted together has now expanded to this yearly charity event. Every edition, a different cause is selected for the funds to be donated to.
“We are very proud of our accomplishments,” said Riley. “We started in 2008 to exhibit for one year only. It was so successful beyond our highest hopes and dreams. We then knew we had to continue.”
“Visitors come from all over the Montreal Island, South Shore, Eastern Townships, the Laurentians and Eastern Ontario” she added. “That makes me very proud.”
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Paintings will be displayed and available for sale inside the historic 200-year-old Beaconsfield Yacht Club from local and guest artists.
The three-day ‘art gallery’ happening from April 24 to 26 is open to all and free to attend.
Additionally, NHL former hockey star for the Montreal Canadiens, Chris Nilan, is the ambassador for the Liam Foundation. He will be present at the vernissage on April 24 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for a ‘meet & greet’.
“There are eight very prolific artists participating. We are a small group, but we do mighty big things,” explained Riley. “We are dedicated and committed to the Art By The Water Exhibit. Approximately 200 paintings will be up for sale in a wide variety of styles.”
“The artists have put their heart into each painting,” she added.
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“Kevin Reason has so much to tell, he has been working tirelessly with researchers and doctors from all over,” Riley explained. “Liam was five years old when he was first diagnosed.”
“He has progressed well,” she added. “But there is so much more work to do through the Liam Foundation.”
