On Wednesday morning, I crouched on my bedroom floor naked, feeling vulnerable.

I had a pen in my hand, and I drew my naked, crouching body for a mindful drawing project. As I drew—bringing mindfulness to the whole experience—I found my heart was clogged with grief, and so was my body. This was because that morning I’d once again seen the news about Aleppo, and my heart had flipped over with the suffering of it all, flown out the window, crossed seas, landed there, broken open.

On Wednesday morning, I read about the things I could do to help the civilians of Aleppo—write to my Member of Parliament or donate to a charity—and I resolved to do them, but they also seemed remote; they didn’t seem like enough.

As I crouched naked, vulnerable, drawing in my bedroom, I thought about the parents crouched in that city with dead children in their arms, and the families crouched trying to shelter from the bombing. I thought of women crouching giving birth. I thought of all the things I could do, and they didn’t seem enough—so I made art, which is what I do, and I tried to show up for the grief and the helplessness I was feeling and hold it mindfully. But it wasn’t enough…

However after drawing and breathing for a while, I realized there was one thing I could do. I decided to tell this story and auction the two drawings I’d just made to raise money for the people of Aleppo.

Because whilst I knew that fundraising alone wasn’t going to solve a political situation of immense complexity—or open hearts or borders to the refugees desperately seeking sanctuary all over the world—I did (and do) believe that even a little compassion, empathy and action can make a huge difference in the face of suffering.

And why stop there? I thought. Why not invite others to auction their art for the people of Aleppo too? Perhaps one or two other artists would. Perhaps you’re one of them?

If you like the idea of creative, compassionate action rippling out into the world, in this season of peace and goodwill to all, then here’s what you can do to be part of #artforaleppo.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional artist or a total beginner. It doesn’t matter if you’re 5 years old or 95. If you can’t make art yourself, then share this with all your arty friends, and bid on someone’s artwork in an auction.

1. Share this post—tag it #artforaleppo

2. Make some art and share it using #artforaleppo

3. Auction your art to your friends and followers

4. Donate the money you raise to one of these 9 charities supporting civilians in Syria, or to a local refugee project in your community. 

5. Ask others to do the same, using #artforaleppo

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In just a few days since that Wednesday morning, artists from all over the world have taken up the idea of #artforaleppo and have made it their own.

In Britain, an illustrator is selling portraits of people’s pets. In Australia, an artist is working with other artist friends to raise funds. Anyone can bid on the auctions for my two crouching drawings here.

Let’s turn our empathy, our compassion and our sense of helplessness into creative action. They say artists are just dreamers, so let’s show them how big we can dream.

Let’s make art for Aleppo.

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Author: Wendy Ann Greenhalgh

Images: author’s own

Editor: Yoli Ramazzina