A snowbird, Sudbury artist Carmen Martorella was in Florida when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February.
“I was watching the news, and it was just so depressing,” she said. “I thought, what, what can I do?”
Martorella, a retired CRA employee and the outgoing president of the Sudbury Art Club, said she decided to use her “God-given” talents as an artist to hold a fundraiser for the Red Cross Ukrainian relief effort.
Using acrylics, Martorella painted sunflowers on a blue background. Sunflowers are the national flower of Ukraine, and mimic the country’s blue and yellow flag.
“It was just in my heart to paint something for the people of Ukraine and what they're going through,” she said. “I'm Italian, and it could have happened to Italy, and it could happen anywhere, because of greed and power.”
She then sold greeting card prints of the artwork for $5 each. Those who purchased greeting cards were entered into a draw to win the original acrylic painting (a man named Michael Glashen won the painting).
To date, the fundraiser has brought in $1,835.
“I can say one person can make a difference in this world,” Martorella said.
She said she wants to say “a big thank you” to those who purchased cards and contributed to her fundraiser. She said she even had one anonymous donor who contributed $250 to the cause.
People who live in the condo complex where Martorella resides while in Florida would stop her and say “I want to donate, I want to buy your card.”
“I just want to say there's a lot of goodness in this world,” she said. “We can't forget that.”
Martorella said she thinks a lot of people were feeling the same way she was about the Ukraine invasion — depressed and helpless.
“They realized it was for a good cause, and they could help in some small way,” she said.
If anyone here in Canada wishes to purchase a card, Martorella said she’s still willing to sell them, although she had the original run printed in the U.S., and hasn’t costed them here. Email her at [email protected] for more information.
