As a former athlete with the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics Club, Amanda Shatzko has become known in the art world for painting live while hung on a high wire.
More recently, the Vernon-raised visual and performing artist has applied her brush to another side of the sports world –– raising money for athletic scholarships.
On June 6, Shatzko painted live at Trinity Western University’s 18th Annual WirelessWave Golf Tournament. Her subject this time was Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who was a guest speaker at the event.
“The tournament raised more than $660,000 for student-athlete scholarships and scholarship endowments,” said Shatzko, adding the tournament broke the $3 million mark in total earnings over the history of the university’s annual event.
She and Fitzgerald signed and auctioned the painting during the tournament’s banquet, contributing the $8,000 winning bid towards scholarship endowments.
Now based in Vancouver, Shatzko understands the importance of scholarships and support towards post secondary education.
She was one of the first participants in Vernon Secondary School’s high performance program, and also competed internationally for seven years as a rhythmic gymnast, representing Canada.
After graduating from Emily Carr University, she turned her gymnastics and dance training into her live painting by flying high in the air during an original acrobatic performance she calls Aerial Art.
She has performed these skills for film and television, live in front of more than 100,000 people, on stages for shows, corporate events, ceremonies and charities.
Along with painting commissions and teaching workshops, Shatzko is a proud supporter of students, athletics and children’s charities. Her work can be found within large corporate offices, private collector and celebrity’s homes.
Fitzgerald is one of many celebrities who holds one of Shatzko’s paintings.
