Holiday Art with a Heart raises funds to fight child malnutrition

“Holiday Art with a Heart” is the theme of an event planned from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Davis Art Center, 1919 F St.

An art workshop for children ages 2 to 8 will run from 10 a.m. to noon, then a silent auction of art and other gifts donated by local businesses will follow from noon to 1:30 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Adopt a Mother & Save Her Child program, which works to prevent malnutrition in children.

The art workshop will be led by Davis artists Jen Nachmanoff and Binuta Sudhakaran and costs $20 per child; registration can be done online at www.childnutritionfoundation.net/events or at the door (with cash or check). Kids will create art on cloth grocery bags and life-size collages superimposed on an Indian landscape.

The event is organized by Child Nutrition Foundation, a Bay Area-based nonprofit organization that supports women and children in villages around Kolkata, India.

“Child malnutrition in this region is rampant, and often starts in the womb,” according to a news release. “The program adopts a mother when she conceives her child and provides all essential care to her and her child till it reaches the age of 2. Providing support during this critical time in a child’s development prevents malnutrition from occurring at all.”

Admission to the auction is free. Accompanying adults are invited to enjoy refreshments and light Indian classical music, and bid on works by Davis artists. The auction also will include goods from local sponsors, including the Davis Food Co-op, Starbucks, The Avid Reader, YoloBerry, Swim America and Mother & Baby Source.

For more information, contact Pooja Srivatsa at poojas@childnutritionfoundation.net.