Crowvid19 is a metal sculpture created by David Harries that helped raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.
Crowvid19 is a very unique fundraiser. This metal sculpture was auctioned off weekly, and the winner got to host this beautiful piece of art for a week on their front-lawn.
In just under 6 months, this fundraiser managed to raise just under $14,000 to help the less fortunate members of the Ottawa community!
Following the tremendous success of his fundraiser, we decided to ask Mr. Harries a few questions.
I came up with the idea for the fundraiser when I was initially creating Crowvid19 in the first few weeks of the lockdown. A friend saw an early photo I shared on social media, and I got a comment suggesting that I rent the sculpture out to people to have him perch on their porch. This sparked the idea to have a weekly auction to let people bid to “foster” him, with all the proceeds going to the Ottawa Food Bank.
Like many people in Ottawa I initially found myself unable to work due to the lockdown at the start of the pandemic. So many people unfortunately already depend on the Ottawa Food Bank to make ends meet, so I knew this would put an added strain on the organization. I have several friends who volunteer with the organization, and knowing there might be a greater need at a time when the community was really limited in terms of being able to donate food directly, it just seems like the right place to try and pitch in.
When we started out with the Crowvid19 fundraiser we never expected it would get this big and last this long. We’ve been just blown away by the support the community has shown to helping out the Ottawa Food Bank. And it’s also been a lot of fun to see the different communities pull together to raise money for a great cause. AND how excited people are when they actually “win” the chance to foster him for a week. We honestly thought we might be able to raise a few hundred dollars, so it’s been really something to see how much the community has gotten behind our little fundraiser.
I’ve been creating metal sculptures for a few years now, but Crowvid19 is by far and away my most ambitious project to date. Since people have seen some of my work I’ve actually gotten three other commissions. So if people were interested in my sculpture work, they could always check out my website: www.daveharries.ca
Here are a few photos that were taken of Crowvid19 and his creator David Harries at their residence.
One Response
Having always enjoyed innovative art forms especially those rendered in metals or wood I stopped at my neighbors to compliment him on his garden renovation and to admire the sculpture. I learned the background re CROWVID19 and was impressed by the fund raised, at that time just over $7000. It is heartwarming to see that it is still going. Keep up the great work.