From left, Dr. Marc Bard, Paintings for a Purpose artist, stands with End 68 Hours of Hunger Wolfeboro members Carol Simpson, Program Coordinator, Rev. Bill Petersen, and Eileen Leavitt, Program Coordinator.
Local watercolor artist Dr. Marc Bard will once again be hosting the ‘Paintings for a Purpose’ Art Show this summer with all of the proceeds from the sale of artwork going to local nonprofit organizations. Dr. Bard will be joined by colleague, Dr. John Ingard, whose wildlife photography will also be included in the 2024 show.
In March, the duo accepted submissions from local nonprofits interested in receiving proceeds from the fundraiser. They, and a committee of community members, met to review the submissions and are pleased to announce the following beneficiaries:
- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire, an organization that recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers to serve as advocates for children throughout the state who have experienced abuse or neglect.
- End 68 Hours of Hunger – Wolfeboro Area, a program that puts nourishing food in the hands of school children to carry them through the weekend.
- Kingswood Youth Center, a center dedicated to providing a safe and positive environment for Wolfeboro area youth to grow, learn and develop life skills critical to their success.
- Restoration Acres Farms, an organization working to reduce food insecurity in Belknap County by providing a dry goods pantry, ready to heat meals and refrigerated items to anyone in need.
“The need is certainly great in our communities and that was evidenced in the dozens of requests we received to benefit from the show,” said Dr. Bard “While it was difficult to narrow the list down to just four, we were excited and humbled by the tremendous interest and we look forward to supporting many more local organizations in the years to come.”
The ‘Paintings for a Purpose’ Art Show will begin with an opening reception at MVSB’s Main Office at 24 NH Route 25 in Meredith from 4-7 pm on June 27. Artwork will remain on display at the location until the end of July and then will move to the Bank’s Wolfeboro Office at 66 North Main Street. A Wolfeboro reception is planned at the Bank from 4-7 pm on August 1 and artwork will remain on display in the Wolfeboro location throughout the month. All are invited to stop in to view and purchase artwork at the receptions or during the bank’s regular hours at mvsb.com/locations.
“We are honored to once again support Dr. Bard and now Dr. Ingard as they grow this special event and its community impact this year,” said Marcus Weeks, MVSB President. “The organizations selected tackle some of the most pressing needs in our communities and the contributions will surely be put to good use helping local people.”
This year, in addition to the sale of original artwork and prints, guest will also have the option to purchase note cards of select designs, request commissioned art, and special order prints of any original piece in the show thanks to the support of Meredith Frame Shop. Artwork can be previewed online on the organization’s website, paintingsforapurpose.org, which has been designed and maintained by Bard’s grandson, Benjy Levine.
The 2024 ‘Paintings for a Purpose’ art show will be Dr. Bard’s 5th annual fundraiser. Last year’s event raised more than $10,000, which was donated to the Meredith Food Pantry to support food insufficiency in local communities.
From left, Zachary Porter, Kingswood Youth Center Executive Director, stand with Dr. Marc Bard, Paintings for a Purpose artist, at the Kingswood Youth Center location in Wolfeboro.
About Dr. Marc Bard
Now in double overtime of a fulfilling career as a medical illustrator, practicing physician, author, health care executive, and national health care consultant, Marc Bard currently devotes his time to embracing the Squam Lake environs with his wife Carol and, whenever possible, his children and grandchildren. He enjoys studying watercolor painting and contributing to the success of local nonprofit charitable organizations by donating all proceeds from his artwork to support their mission
About Dr. John Ingard
Ingard recently retired from a long career as a practicing internist, initially in partnership with Marc Bard. Since high school, he has visited Squam Lake and for the past seven years, he and his wife have enjoyed their cabin near Lake Kanasatka. He started with digital photography 25 years ago and for the past 15 years, he has used Canon EOS full-frame sensor cameras. His wildlife photography involves a fulfilling mix of artistic expression, outdoor exercise, and observation of animal behavior.