Hillsboro Art of War auction for Ukraine Feb. 10-11

The Town of Hillsboro, in conjunction with the non-profit Hillsboro Preservation Foundation will host UkraineAid23—Art of War, on Feb. 10 and 11 to raise funds in support of the people of Ukraine.

Participating in the event will be the international organization Blacksmiths Without Borders, whose exhibitions and events held in Europe featuring Ukrainian artists, blacksmiths, and children have raised funds for emergency vehicles and protective equipment for communities in Ukraine.

Swedish artist and blacksmith Ludvig Ödman, whose political cartoons on the war have won acclaim across Europe, will be the featured speaker at an Eat, Drink & Be Literary! entitled Art of War—Friday, Feb. 10, at Hillsboro’s Old Stone School. (Tickets and information: OldStoneSchool.org)

An exclusive “American Edition” of Ödman’s celebrated Ukraine Drawings will be on display Friday evening and will be auctioned after an artist reception on Saturday, Feb. 11—along with an array of works from award-winning political cartoonists including Pulitzer Prize-winner Joel Pett, and Kevin Kallaugher, Steve Artely, Paul Fell, Stilson Greene and Hillsboro’s Chip Beck.

Limited editions of iconic works by Ukrainian political poster artist Nikita Titov will also be auctioned, as will work by Ukrainian blacksmith Sergiy Polubotko, Hillsboro’s Laney Oxman and several watercolor artists from across the region and the nation.

Hillsboro Mayor Roger Vance said, “As the first anniversary of the Russian invasion nears, it is critical to keep Americans’ awareness of Ukraine’s fight for freedom high and continue to support the people in any way that we can. This event will inform and inspire—as well as raise funds to aide Ukrainians on the ground during what will be a brutal winter.”

Just five weeks after the invasion began Hillsboro’s UkraineAid concert and art auction raised $20,000 to support Ukrainian war refugees. Hillsboro Preservation Foundation President Paul Hrebenak said the coming UkraineAid23 event will again extend the reach of the non-profit organization’s Neighbors in Need program. “People here want to help and as part of our Neighbors in Need program we can continue to keep the needs of the Ukrainian people in our hearts and mind—and take action,” Hrebenak said. “We are pleased to partner again with the Town of Hillsboro to raise funds for the valiant Ukrainians battling for their freedom and democracy.”

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, to the Old Stone School and The Gap Bar, with artwork on display, providing attendees the opportunity to place a bid or purchase works. The Eat, Drink & Be Literary! presentation—Art of War, begins a 7 p.m.

Advance tickets are available for $15 at OldStoneSchool.org., or at the door for $20. On Saturday, Feb. 11, the Art of War exhibit and silent auction begins at 12 noon and ends at 5 p.m., with an artist reception starting at 3 p.m. Admission to the exhibit and the auction is free.

Joining Ödman in Hillsboro will be fellow Blacksmiths Without Borders member Sergiy Polubotko. Ödman, whose wife is Ukrainian, said his Ukraine Drawings began as an exercise to calm his nerves when the invasion began. To date, he has created more than 100 inspired pen and ink drawings, with all proceeds from their sale going to support the provision of humanitarian equipment to Ukraine.

Mayor Vance said the Town and Hillsboro Preservation Foundation are working with the Ukrainian Embassy to promote the event and anticipates Embassy officials will be attending. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for us explore the nexus of art and resistance in the battle against brutal aggression being perpetrated today on a scale not seen before in this century—and materially support the people of Ukraine,” Vance said.

Hrebenak said tickets and more details for the Friday Eat, Drink & Be Literary! and the Art of War art exhibit and silent auction on Saturday, are available at OldStoneSchool.org.