Timeraiser is a brilliant organization – a party for social good that supports emerging artists and nonprofit organizations across Canada.

With the slogan “Bid Time. Do Good. Get Art” Timeraiser purchases artwork from local emerging artists, and then auctions that art at a massive fundraiser.  The twist, instead of bidding money participants bid volunteer hours to local charities and nonprofit organizations.  The idea is you support a local charity that needs your help and you’re incentivized for the good work by getting a beautiful artwork once the hours are completed.  The average is 100 hours per piece or 2 hours a week.  The Toronto Timeraiser is May 24, 2017 at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, get your tickets !!

As a member of the Toronto Timeraiser committee, I was one of the jurors on the art acquisition team, and also had the unique pleasure of installing the Timeraiser Pop Up Preview space at Toronto For Everyone event at Honest Ed’s.

We previewed a selection of the work that will be up for auction. I really love the intricate etching by Alex Thompson, and teacup photo by Farihah Shah.  I current soft spot for abstract work I just loving the painted plexiglass by Jordan Dunlop, layered painting by Nicole Charles, dissected flowers by Amanda Clyne.

Our Timeraiser space was animated with a mural”Time and Place” created by Ness Lee and Tessar Lo.  The floor was painted by Callen Schaub who was also doing live demonstration of his kinetic painting technique in the boiler room.

A common misconception is that art is for museums or prohibitively expensive.  Timeraiser succeeds at introducing an accessibility to supporting local emerging artists, proving that anyone can own original art and it’s very easy to start collecting.