By Mike Gregory
Artists Joseph and Carey Amato were 15 years ago sketching landscapes and sports in Edmonton when a Dieppe veteran changed the lives of the husband and wife by commissioning a decal for his vehicle.
“He re-lit the connection you should have with the past,” said Joseph of his now late friend John O’Connell Hunter, who served as part of the King’s Own Calgary Regiment during the Second World War.
“I think each artist needs a reason to paint and meeting John Hunter, although we helped him, he certainly helped us.”
A bond quickly formed between the couple and Hunter, who, in his 80s, would visit their shop and share stories of being captured as a prisoner of war in Dieppe.
One day Hunter was invited to the Amatos’ for a barbecue when Joseph plucked a poppy from his flower bed and began to sketch the first of what is now a collection of pieces inspired by Canada’s military veterans.
“Our artwork are not symbols of war they are symbols of peace,” said Joseph, who together with Carey lived in Ladysmith from 2007 to 2011 and recently returned back to Vancouver Island.
Working in partnership with local Royal Canadian Legions, including Ladysmith Branch 171, the Amatos’ are selling prints benefiting veterans, including the programs and services they use.
‘We want to help them by providing these prints and a portion of the prints that are sold through the Legion, they receive as a donation toward their general fund,” Carey said.
Wiping a tear from her eye, she adds “we want to get to the point where we can donate money to families of veterans.”
From a piece inspired by the freemason’s empty chair ceremony to another of a lone bagpiper playing tribute to his uncle amongst graves surrounded by poppies, the Amatos’ work specializes in reflections of Canada’s culture, history and spirit.
The couple’s work is also for sale and on display at the Alberta Aviation Museum in Edmonton.
But their goal for with the Journey of Remembrance series is not fame or fortune.
Aside from the printing and preparation costs, as well as a small artists’ fee, the majority of the profits from the sale of the artwork all goes to the Legions.
“A lot of Legions are in disrepair or they need some sort of maintenance so the donations can go towards that,” Joseph said.
“Our goal is to give this Remembrance Day print to every veteran in the country.”
Veterans have become like a second family to the Amatos’ and they have taken great pride in honouring them through art for years to come.
“This is like our service to the veterans and when we’re gone these will still remain and hopefully they’ll still have the impact on the people that see them – they’ll know the stories,” Joseph said.
The Amotos’ print artwork can be purchased for $20 each by visiting the Ladysmith Legion or Bayview Gallery.
For more information visit www.amatoart.ca
