“Art for the Heart” Art Exhibition for Foster Care

As families prepare for the summer holidays with their children, there are over 1400 children in Sarasota and Manatee counties who hope this summer brings them a feeling of normalcy, belonging and a permanency with a loving home and family.

Year-round, the Heart Gallery of Sarasota, works to see that goal through, and they also get a helping hand from local photographers who volunteer their time to take photos of children in foster care as part of the Heart Gallery program. To help raise awareness of these children, the non-profit is exhibiting the faces of foster care at Art Avenue and will celebrate the opening exhibit on June 13^th from 5 to 7 pm. There is no charge to attend.

“We engage over 50 local photographers who are the lifeblood of our program. Without them, we couldn’t do this amazing work,” said Matt Straeb, Heart Gallery of America co-founder and president of the Sarasota location. “It’s important that we honor them while also recognizing that we still have a critical need for not only more people who want to foster and adopt but also individuals to volunteer in support of these kids.”

Local photographer Peter Acker is one of those professionals that make the portraits happen. He has been volunteering his time to take photos for the Heart Gallery over the last 15 years. “I remember when I first started, a boy, he was 16, about to age out, and he was talking about how important it was for the older kids to find a home. The older kids are less likely to want their photo seen by their peers, they don’t want to be different, they just want to fit in”.

In addition to photographs, oil paintings of the children, created on canvas, have been donated to the exhibit by Painting for Good Causes, a non-profit that works with more than 50 volunteer artists who want these families and kids to know that somebody cares. Among dozens of paintings in the exhibit are several life size portraits of children available for adoption.

“These kids are part of our community and it’s everyone’s responsibility to help them.” Said Paul Sykes, the owner of Art Avenue at Westfield Siesta Key Mall, who curated the collection within his large gallery of notable works by famed artists. He also owns the café at the mall that will be catering the event. “If having the Heart Gallery displayed at Art Avenue makes a difference for just one child, it will be a success,” says Sykes.

“We are truly grateful to those who create a loving and nurturing environment for children and every individual who plays a part in helping change the life of a child”, said Straeb. We are asking everyone to attend Art for the Heart to proactively raise awareness about the importance of providing great childhoods in our community.”