Painting for Palestine in Timaru

The work of a group of painters in South Canterbury will be sold to raise money for children in Gaza.

On Sunday, more than 20 artists gathered at the Art Hang-out @ Studio Oishi for a Painting for Palestine workshop, with money raised from the sale of the work to go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

Studio owner Helen Oishi said the morning, a collaboration with South Canterbury 4 Palestine, had not been about politics, but about doing something positive to raise money for children in difficult circumstances.

“Each person brought a canvas and some paint and those that weren’t artists brought food along to share,’’ Oishi said.

There was a range of paintings, including work based on that of Palestinian visual artist Malak Matter who had given permission for her work to be used worldwide, she said.

“It was a really nice atmosphere and very calm and positive,’’ Oishi said.

She said while she had held similar events in the past, it would be nice to host more.

A site was now being sought to display the work, she said.