Legends Experience - Mark Messier

I am very proud to have been asked back to The Legends Experience this year in Edmonton AB.  The event is hosted and produced by the Edmonton Kinsmen...

Kin Canada is a non-profit community service organization. Clubs across Canada work in their communities to promote service, fellowship, positive values and national pride.
More than 7,000 members belong to over 500 Kinsmen, Kinette and Kin clubs from coast to coast.
Every year, Kin clubs contribute millions of dollars to Canadian communities. In fact, Kin members have proudly contributed more than $1 billion to Canadian communities since their Association was founded in 1920.

Last year The event welcomed Wayne Gretzky, being a Legend and Oiler during the dynasty years it was quite fitting the Experience should start with him.

This year, 2012 the event hosted yet another Legend and one time Oiler Mark Messier...

Messier is considered one of the greatest NHL players of all time.   He is second on the all-time career lists for regular season points (1887), playoff points (295) and regular season games played (1756). He won six Stanley Cups , five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers, and is the only player to captain two different professional teams to championships.  His playoff leadership while in New York, which ended a 54-year Stanley Cup drought in 1994, earned him the nickname "The Messiah". He was also known, over the course of his career, as "The Moose" for his aggression and strength.  In 2007, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility.



I am honored to have been offered the task of creating the official portraits for both events.  I enjoyed painting both very much.  In the 2 events combined the artwork was signed and raised a total of $45,111 for amazing causes such as Cystic Fibrosis Canada.  This is something I am very proud of!

I will be posting more pics from this amazing event very soon.  Many thanks to the Edmonton Kinsmen and Kin Canada for putting together another world class event, and for their time and gracious hosting.

 

The Event was such a great experience.  I am very proud to have been a part of it for the second year, and look forward to 2013!






The same as the Russell Brand painting, I took a
photo periodically to document the progression
of the work from blank canvas to finished piece.
Take a look at the video below.  Thanks!!

 

Music Therapy Ride 2012

I am very proud to be a part of this years MUSIC THERAPY RIDE.

Now celebrating it’s 11^th Anniversary, MTR has raised over $500,000 as a result of its annual ride from Vancouver to Whistler.  In 2012, MTR will rev its engines even louder, and provide a presidential escort to a new location, beautiful Harrison Hot Springs. 

In addition to aiding Music Therapists and general Music Therapy programs, the MTR committee has funded a recording studio at BC Children’s Hospital, as well as manufactured a mobile recording studio to service patients bedside in the hospital.  The mobile studios, operating under the name “Band Wagon 1”, enable Music Therapists to expand their already vital work by giving clients the ability to record the music created during their therapy sessions. This music will provide a legacy for their family, friends and community.

This years event will be taking place from Fraser Downs Raceway to Harrison Hot Springs BC.  The organizers have again done a great job of planning a fantastic event.  This years guests include Shannon, Sophie and Nick Tweed Simmons, and musical guests 54-40.  I personally am donating a 48" x 48" Giclee print stretched, ready to hang portrait of Gene Simmons.

The original is 48" x 48"  acrylic on canvas.  The title is "I Love It Loud"  Gene has been kind enough to agree to sign the print that will be auctioned.

I am really looking forward to the event and hope that we raise a lot of money for such a great cause!
I will update after the event.

more about THE MUSIC THERAPY RIDE