International artist offers support for Buddy Day

10 November 2011

International artist offers support for Buddy Day

Internationally recognised artist Jean Laming is giving her support to child abuse prevention awareness day, ‘Buddy Day,’ by exhibiting and painting in Hamilton in the lead up to the event on 18 November.

Jean Laming has exhibited, painted and sold works all around the world. She has a strong following in Europe where one of her murals recently sold for 25,000 pounds.

Buddy Day will see 180 cardboard cut-out children dressed and decorated and looked after for the day by selected people on Friday 18 November. The day is designed to highlight the incidence of child abuse in our society and to galvanise community commitment and action to prevent it.

Buddy Day is the first ever event of this type in New Zealand, and although it is being staged in Hamilton and surrounding areas this year, it is hoped it will in future grow into a national child abuse prevention awareness day.

Jean Laming is now Kaikoura based and has painted 15 large works to exhibit in Hamilton the week beginning 14 November, which she is describing as ‘Totems’.

She says while she is totally committed to doing whatever she can to raise the profile of child abuse prevention, as an artist the subject is challenging.

“While child abuse is about absolute horror, I didn’t want the paintings to depict that horror. Instead I have taken a ‘child like’ approach to these paintings. All of the paintings are linked and I am hoping that they help to tell an important story.”

Jean Laming will also be painting a cut-out ‘buddy’ each day to contribute to the event. The exhibition and painting will take place at the premises of child advocacy and protection agency Child Matters who are supporting and providing information and education in conjunction with Buddy Day.

Child Matters are located at 480 Anglesea Street in Hamilton. The public is invited to stop by and view the art exhibit and the buddies being painted from 9am-5pm, 14-18 November.

ENDS

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