Last year, Enter Gallery artist, Gavin Mitchell, produced his Postcard for Ukraine – a limited edition postcard featuring his original artwork that people could buy in the gallery or as an add-on to their online purchases.
Since its launch, sales of Mitchell’s postcard have raised £2,000, which Enter Gallery will be donating directly to PCM Garczyn – a youth centre that has been designated as a place of collective residence for refugees from Ukraine.
Today, we’re launching a new postcard for the same charity, kindly created by contemporary artist, Marcelina Amelia. In this blog, we chat to Amelia about the empowering meaning behind the piece, and provide an update on how the funds raised have gone towards helping in some small way over in Ukraine.
The Mother of the Freedom Movement
In Postcard for Ukraine, Amelia depicts Rosa Parks – the American civil rights activist best-known as the brave face of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Her passive protest against segregated seating on city buses happened in 1955. It is regarded as the first large-scale US demonstration against segregation, and earned Parks the moniker of, ‘the mother of the freedom movement.’
Amelia tells us why she chose to depict Parks for her postcard:
“Parks’ quiet and elegant strength has always been an inspiration for me as it has empowered many people around the world. By simply not giving up her seat, she changed the course of history. This painting of Parks is intended as a symbol of the power of seemingly-small but still heroic acts. Her story restores my faith in the idea that every single person and every small action can make a huge difference. Every new day is a chance to make a difference.”
Fighting for a better future
Going into more detail about Parks, Amelia tells us that the activist believed that, ‘Each person must live their life as a model for others.’ The postcard therefore serves as a reminder that we must keep fighting for equality and freedom, and that simple actions can spark a revolution.
As well as being a beautiful painting, the piece is full of symbolism, not least the fact that Parks is captured sitting down.
“In my painting I was trying to capture Parks’ peaceful and quiet power. I depict her sitting down because, as she explained at the time, she wasn’t sitting down [on that bus] because she was tired, she was sitting down because she was tired of giving in.”
“Rosa is also accompanied by bird of paradise flowers which are believed to be a symbol of freedom and immortality. Also, under her right elbow you can spot a fragment of the banner ‘Freedom yes, Apartheid no,’ that Park was carrying at a 1984 march at the South African Embassy in Washington, protesting that country's racial policies. This is intended to be a subtle reminder that Parks was a lifelong freedom fighter, and that up until her death in 2005, she never stopped fighting for a better world.”
An update from the charity…
To learn more about the charity we spoke to Anita from local Brighton business, YouJuice. Anita has Ukrainian roots and helped us to determine where it was best to send the proceeds raised. Here, she reveals a little about how the funds will help:
“Prior to the invasion of Ukraine PCM Garczyn was a youth centre for disabled children, where they could participate in activities designed to improve their independence.
Since March 2022, children and youth from an orphanage in Chmielnicki in Ukraine have been staying in the facility. Funds raised by Enter Gallery via these postcards go directly to helping these young people.”
You can buy Postcard for Ukraine by Marcelina Amelia at Enter Gallery in Brighton, or as an add-on for online orders. Simply add to your order at the checkout. All proceeds will go directly to charity.
