Auction for Q!

Charity Art Auction In aid of Q: Afghan Refugee

You can bid online via Zoom or join us at The Woodshed – please let us know if you’re coming!

Saturday 27^th November 2021 at 2pm

Original artwork from local and international artists on sale: click here for the catalogue!

Zoom link – just click to join the auction!!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86215284884?pwd=ZFE1bFltaVRJOTFEcFRaM3VIcXNKdz09
Meeting ID: 862 1528 4884                                        Passcode: 687694

This auction is to support Louise O’Connell in raising funds so that a young family of Afghan brothers can continue their education and their lives together

Q has been in the UK as a refugee for approximately ten years and has indefinite legal leave to remain here. He is a young man who fled to the UK as a child escaping the Taliban who had taken him to a training camp. The Taliban had already killed his father and later killed his mother after he left Afghanistan. 
This left Q and his two younger brothers orphaned with no other family members and no financial support as his mother had sold the family land to pay for his safe passage to UK.

Q has worked hard since the age of 14/ 15 when he first arrived but has not been able to save enough for the legal process which will allow him to be reunited with his brothers. Over the last five years Louise has been supporting him with finding /locating his brothers and then with seeking legal representation for the reunification process.

Fundraising will help reunite Q with his younger brothers which will involve legal costs for applications to the home office for each brother. He then has to prove he can financially look after his brothers with a set income, DNA tests and secure a property with at least two bedrooms. He currently lives in a one-bedroom flat. He has survived much trauma and is a caring, compassionate hard working young man of 24 who desperately wants to ensure the safety and safe care of his younger brothers who are at risk of being killed by the Taliban if found.

Please support this auction to raise further funds towards this humanitarian cause.

Follow this link if you would like to donate directly on Louise’s GoFundMe page

https://bit.ly/Qfundraiser

This one-day charity auction is being organised by The School Bus Project which is a registered charity no. 1166972 and is being hosted by The Woodshed Gallery, Bail Steps, Folkestone, CT20 1AS

That was the year, this is

2021 looks set to be big on memories: all the things we had forgotten how to do, places to be, people to see and so on.

Well, it really is good to be back – as they say.
And The Woodshed team are making the most of the summer and the change in mood in and around Folkestone.

Firstly, it’s Folkestone Triennial Year – and we are proud to be contributing a series of exhibitions and event for the Folkestone Fringe. This is almost more exciting than the Triennial itself, dare I say! Local artists, events and a bag of all sorts come together to provide a complementary menu of arts activity in and around the town.

Here’s the link you need to see The Woodshed page and programme. Do also browse the rest of the Fringe Festival programme and see what’s on.

And here’s a link to the Folkestone 2021 Triennial, itself – with some more unique and original art works provided for the town to build on the existing collection, plus a great series of talks, tours and tours de force, as always.

The Woodshed continues to support our local community and provide activities in collaboration with other creative people. Currently we are proudly supporting FPAC – Folkestone Performing Arts Centre – which is a new performing arts improvised play project on the theme of the environment and also a plan to establish a permanent centre for the performing arts in the Folkestone East and Harbour area.

The history of the Woodshed – coming soon

New Work for 2019

Already busy with new work for an Exhibition in April…

collaborating with fellow Folkestone artist,

Candida Wright

– carvings in stone and wood, drawings and paintings.

Work in progress, exploring a long held passion for horses. I’m painting direct on boards, using acrylic and liquid pencil.

Acrylic on board with liquid pencil

Acrylic on board

I also have commissioned portraits on the easel,

no time for slacking!

The Woodshed is generally open at weekends between 11 – 4.30pm.

Usually working in the studio during the week. Call to check if you’d like to visit…

The Woodshed 01030 40432

 or DM me (!) Instagram @thewoodshed_folkestone

email: lavenderhillmob@hotmail.com

Shy And Retiring 23rd Aug – 8th Sept

In August, we open a new and unusual exhibition, which is a collaboration with my partner Jon – Shy and Retiring.  There is a clue, in that he reaches a fine old age this month!

We look forward to welcoming visitors for an eclectic retrospective with a mix of artworks, artefacts, writings and music which tell the story of our time together and a bit beyond even that!