“The Butterfly Project” Taps Student, Local Talent to Support
Community’s Fight Against Cancer
St. Tammany Parish Hospital (STPH) and Delgado Community College Northshore invite the public to join an evening of live music, food and butterfly-inspired art works on Tuesday, Dec.15, 2009, to benefit the STPH Cancer Resource Center. The event will be held 5 - 7 p.m. at Delgado Northshore’s 327 New Hampshire Street location in historic downtown Covington.
“The Butterfly Project,” a Delgado Service Learning initiative, joins the talents and efforts of Delgado and Louisiana Technical College (LTC) Region 1 students, along with regional leaders, to present a Fine Arts Exhibit and Silent Auction of original works inspired by butterflies. “This is truly an effort by the community, for the community,” said Douglas Brewster, Delgado Northshore Fine Art instructor. “It’s wonderful that so many groups have joined forces for this one great cause.”
The silent auction, which will close in stages throughout the event, will feature 100 wooden butterflies cut by LTC Carpentry students and hand-painted by Delgado City Park Campus, West Bank Campus and Northshore Fine Art students, as well as several regional guest “celebrity” artists. Also up for auction will be some must-have items such as a pearl necklace donated by Boudreaux’s Jewelers, ceramic works by Delgado West Bank Fine Art students, and Preservation Hall tickets and CDs.
All proceeds from the Silent Auction will benefit the STPH Cancer Resource Center, an invaluable source of knowledge in the community’s fight against cancer. The Center gives patients and their loved ones access to current and accurate information related to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, rehabilitation and coping resources. It also helps patients undergoing treatment to obtain necessary items such as nutritional supplements, wigs and breast prostheses some of which are provided to patients who cannot afford them. The Center’s mission is to provide services at no cost and relies on the donated financial contributions of individuals, families and corporations.
In addition to the rolling Silent Auction, the evening will offer an exhibit of works by Delgado Northshore Fine Art students and an awards ceremony for best-of-show works, as decided by Juror Andy Antippas, Ph.D., of Barrister’s Gallery New Orleans. A public reception will feature delectable hors d’oeuvres and live jazz music led by Dr. Peter Cho, Delgado Humanities Department chair and Music professor.
“The Butterfly Project” is very personal to a large number of its creators and participants, who have either battled cancer themselves or have a close friend or family member who has faced cancer. One of the event’s organizers – and the painter of a butterfly to be auctioned – is the president of the Delgado Northshore Art Club, Deanna Wehrung.
“Being a two-time cancer survivor and actually benefiting from the Cancer Resource Center at STPH last year, this event is very close to my heart,” said Wehrung. “Attending Delgado last fall was my first venture out into the world after my last recurrence. I had always been creative, but had never painted. I am now in my third painting class and am loving it. Looking back on my paintings, butterflies kept appearing and I hadn't really put much thought into it until my husband pointed out that my recovery and transformation was the same as a butterfly.”
The Butterfly Project is sponsored by Breaux’ Cajun Catering, Heiner Brau, Mo’s Art Supply, Thai Taste, Vazquez Seafood & Po-Boys and Yujin Restaurant.
For more information about The Butterfly Project, visit www.dcc.edu or call Delgado Northshore-Covington at (985) 646-6420 or (504) 671-6610. To learn more about St. Tammany Parish Hospital’s Cancer Resource Center, contact Chryl Corizzo at (985) 898-4581 or ccorizzo@stph.org.