Art for kids’ sake

By now you’ve probably heard of Artocracy , the brainchild of Spokane artist Megan Murphy. Artocracy is “a virtual art space connecting artists and patrons through the sale of affordable art,” according to the organization’s Web site.

Here’s how it works: Murphy displays the work of artists from around the world on her Web site. Patrons—like you!—can either purchase a digital print (sent as a PDF) or order a print or framed print to be shipped in the mail.

Artocracy keeps prices down ($20-50 sans frame) by selling high-quality prints rather than the original work, giving people who can’t normally afford it the opportunity to display beautiful art in their homes.

Seventy-five percent of the proceeds from each sale goes directly to the artist. And Murphy is part of One Percent for the Planet , a business alliance committed to a healthier planet. She donates 1 percent of her profits to Ecotrust , of Portland, Ore.

So what does this have to do with kids (see headline above)?

Well, I can think of a lot of ways it applies. But most specifically—Artocracy currently is exhibiting a collection of artwork to support sick children at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Spokane.

For each image sold from the exhibit, 25 percent of the sale will support a program that brings art activities to the patients. (The other 75 percent goes to the artist.)

Murphy and other artists have been donating their time at the hospital since September—painting, drawing and just giving kids a chance to think about something other than their illness.

“When kids are in the hospital, they miss out on a lot of everyday activities most kids get to do,” Murphy told me over the phone today. “The hospital tries to bring them some normalcy … and part of that is art.”

The money raised through the art sale will pay for art supplies, educational materials and frames to display the children’s work in the hospital.

Fantastic, huh? But if you want to help out, you better act fast. The exhibit only runs through Saturday.

To see what’s available, visit the Artocracy Web site and click on “view exhibit.”

By supporting the program, you’re “giving them the opportunity to be a child instead of a sick child,” Murphy says.