Splash
About Splash
Splash is Arts Umbrella’s annual art auction with proceeds benefiting young people across Metro Vancouver in the visual and performing arts.
Splash features evening entertainment, elegant food and cocktails, Arts Umbrella student performances, and culminates in the spectacular Live Auction.
Splash – Presented by Nicola Wealth
The 43rd annual Splash Art Auction will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2025
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
6PM PT / 9PM ET
Stay tuned for updates on this year’s event!
Follow us on Instagram @au_splash
Thank you to our generous supporters
Confirmed as of April 30th, 2025.
Committee Members
Co-Chairs: Christie Garofalo and Bruce Munro Wright, O.B.C.
Vancouver Committee: Heather Altas, Jan Ballard, Cailin Broere, Meagan Conn, Kimberly Cudney, Celia Dawson, Daniel Frankel, Harriet Guadagnuolo, Mike Howcroft, Brianna Huycke, Mary Levitan, Brigitte Matheusik, Coleen Nemtin, Inna O’Brian, Chris Poseley, Natasha Ross, Ruthie Shugarman, Carmen So, Beverley Steinhoff, Tassan Sung, Trudy Van Dop, Timothy A. Young
Calgary Committee: Cassandra Cross, Marion Dixon, Chethan Lakshman, Michael Simmonds
Toronto Committee: Mary Jo Looby, Shonda Pierce, Colby Richardson, Danielle Skipp, Steven Wilson
Limited Edition Douglas Coupland Print
Renowned visual artist and author Douglas Coupland has generously created a new, limited edition print, Space Face (Ruth), 2022, in an edition of 40 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Splash. The subject of the portrait, Ruth, is a dance student at Arts Umbrella. The funds raised from this generous gift will significantly increase our capacity to serve children and youth through arts education.
About the piece, from Douglas Coupland:
The image I’ve created here for Splash stems from a body of work I began around 2014 which sought to determine the parameters of how much of a face could be left visible before that face became no longer recognizable by AI recognition systems. Looking back at many of those pieces, I’m amazed by how much I underestimated the speed and power of facial recognition’s approach. These days a good system can pretty much identify you by a square inch of cheekbone or by chin/earlobe/hairline proportions. I’d like to thank Ruth for ‘posing’ for this portrait as it were, and I’m curious if, in one hundred years the world can determine her identity through, say just a few pixels of this image. I wouldn’t be surprised.
Space Face (Ruth), 2022
Inkjet Print
29 × 24 in, framed | Edition of 40
Generously donated by the Artist
Courtesy of Daniel Faria Gallery, Toronto
Price: $4,300 (includes a $500 tax receiptable donation, plus applicable taxes)