ORLANDO | After a successful event last year that raised more than $6,000 for Zebra Youth, artist Nick Smith returns to The Hammered Lamb Oct. 12 with another art show fundraiser for the LGBTQ+ youth nonprofit.
“Zebra Youth is very close to me” Smith says. “I used to be a volunteer onsite there and I try to fundraise when and where I can for them. This is my way to keep giving back.”
Smith, who came out when he was 16, started a gay-straight alliance with a friend at their school in Brevard County in 2001, the first school in the area to have a GSA. Remembering what it was like for him and other queer kids then is what drives his passion to help LGBTQ+ youth however he can.
“You have good times and dark times at that age,” he says. “So being able to give back to this upcoming generation, because they’re the ones that are going to affect the future, is important. Zebra makes sure that they have a platform, that they’re being helped so they feel safe.”
Smith’s art show this year will feature 12-15 of his original works that will displayed at The Hammered Lamb. The event is the kickoff to a month-long showing of his work and will be a collection of some new pieces as well as a few classic pieces.
“Pop art got me on the map, the ones with more 3D elements, so you’ll see a couple pop culture pieces, a couple broad pieces, you might see something that makes you think ‘what the hell is that?’ but there’s someone in the crowd who is going to connect with it,” Smith says. “I like to just play with them and try different things. That’s why I don’t do themes for my show. Mine is more like I wanted to mess around, drawing with these colors and using this weird new material and stuff, and just see what comes out of it.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase Smith’s art as well as purchase tickets for a raffle fundraiser.
We go to local establishments, more community driven places, and ask them to donate prizes to the raffle and then people come out, buy tickets and they can win some cool stuff,” Smith says, “with 100% of the proceeds from the raffle going directly back to Zebra Youth.”
The event — which is presented by Kate Maini and Smith’s Urban Quarters Team, Realty Executives Gallery Properties — will be hosted by Central Florida performer Axel Andrews and feature a variety of raffle prizes including tickets to Disney World, an Orlando Pride soccer game, Zebra Youth’s Valentine’s Day brunch, VIP access to One Magical Weekend’s RipTide and VIP for Come Out With Pride’s festival as well as gift cards to Gods & Monsters, Lacastro Store, Pom Pom’s Teahouse & Sandwicheria, Kres Chophouse, District Dive and many, many more.
“I’m so grateful to all of the people and organizations that have donated prizes, we have over 30 items to raffle off,” Smith says. “And everyone who has helped to make this show possible, Jason Lambert letting us come into The Hammered Lamb to do this, these are all amazing people.”
Art by Nick Smith featuring a fundraiser for Zebra Youth will be at The Hammered Lamb on Oct. 12 from 7-10 p.m. Learn more about Nick Smith’s art by going to NickMakesArt.com and you can see a full list of raffle prizes in the Facebook post below.
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