The Rotary Club of Sarnia has arranged to sell prints of work by Natasha Nikolenko, a Ukrainian artist who settled in Sarnia in April after fleeing her war-torn country.
Nikolenko, who was born without use of her arms or legs, paints by holding a brush in her mouth and she and her caregiver are being assisted by Bethel Pentecostal Church as part of its effort to help settle refugees from Ukraine.
The artist and her caregiver are living at Wellington Flats in an apartment provided by Vision Nursing and Rest Home where CEO Heather Martin is a Rotarian.
Martin organized the art sale fundraiser.
“Our hope is we’ll sell 200 of her prints, and we have gift cards that are also on sale,” Martin said.
Half of the proceeds will go to the artist and half to a Rotary Club relief fund for Ukraine, she said.
“She’s quite an amazing lady,” Martin said.
Nikolenko attended a recent service club meeting and shared the story of her life, with the help of a translator.
“It’s quite a remarkable story,” Martin said. “She’s a lady of resilience, I’ll tell you.”
Ed Dickson, the overseas coordinator with the Chatham-based humanitarian organization, Loads of Love, that is active in Ukraine, including the orphanage where Nikolenko grew up, was involved in helping her and her caregiver get to Sarnia.
She became a skilled artist who was recognized on a television broadcast as one of the heroes of Ukraine for overcoming obstacles in her life. Nikolenko and her caregiver fled first to Romania after the Russian invasion.
Dickson has said Nikolenko had been able to support herself in Ukraine by selling her paintings.
Dickson reached out to Bethel Church which has been working to support several refugees from the war in Ukraine, and Vision offered an apartment for Nikolenko and her caregiver.
“Since Natasha’s story became known, many people asked us how they could help,” Martin said. “This is a great way to support Natasha, and Ukraine.”
The prints and cards can be purchased at the Vision Nursing Home corporate office at 109 Crawford St., Sarnia, 8 am to 3:45 pm by cash, check or e-transfer only.
Prints are $50 or $80 for framed prints. Cards are $10 each or three for $25, or $25 for a framed card and $30 for a framed card and biography.
“I have raided Michael’s and Walmart and got all the frames that I could and have been framing them up here at work,” Martin said.
“We’re doing quite well with sales.”
It’s set to run until July 16.