Teen Artists "Painting Hope" In Newtown For 2 Important Causes

NEWTOWN, PA — A group of student artists are raising funds this month by selling their original art for two important causes - breast cancer patients and the fight against Lyme Disease.

The "Painting Hope" Youth Art Show features 30 paintings by local youth artists, along with note cards and two collaborative works up for silent auction. The show is on view through July 5 at the Countryside Gallery at the corner of South State Street and Washington Avenue.

The main part of the show features student artwork created in support of breast cancer patients. Each painting includes the color pink, and note cards featuring each student's artwork are being sold to raise money for WelcomeToMainSt.org.

Main St., formerly Pine2Pink, is a Doylestown-based nonprofit that supports local breast cancer patients through treatment and recovery.

Money raised by the sale of the notecards will remain in the community supporting free programs, transportation, meals, wigs and counseling for breast cancer patients.

The second part of the exhibit is a Lyme awareness information table located at the gallery. Free prevention information is available for visitors from the Pennsylvania Lyme Resource Network. The display also includes the story of how Lyme Disease affected a former Council Rock athlete.

Mae works on "Flowers Of Hope," a collaborative work being auctioned for Lyme Disease research.

The artists with their collaborative painting, "Flowers of Hope," which is being auctioned for Lyme Disease research.

The artists with their collaborative painting, "Hope In Bloom," which is being auctioned for breast cancer patients.

Pennsylvania leads the nation in Lyme Disease cases, and Bucks County ranks second in the state. Children are identified as a high-risk group because of outdoor activities. This year is proving to be especially bad for ticks and that emergency room visits have increased.

The exhibit also aims to raise awareness about Alpha Gal Syndrome, which is an emerging threat in which a tick bite can trigger a sudden allergy to red meat. Posters and note cards featuring youth art are available for purchase, with 100 percent of proceeds going to PaLyme.org.

In addition to the sale of the notecards and posters, the students have collaborated on two floral paintings - "Hope in Bloom" and "Flowers of Hope" - created and signed by all 30 student artists.

The works will be sold to the highest silent auction bidders. Bids for the two collaborative works will be accepted at Countryside Gallery between now and July 5.

One hundred percent of the purchase price from those two works will go directly to the respective nonprofit organizations. The exhibit remains on display at Countryside Gallery in Newtown through July 5.