Art studio holds fundraiser for Powell family
Stumptown Art Studio’s Shelby Powell has given a lot to her work and her community.
Now, the studio wants the community’s help in supporting Powell.
Powell suffered a fall over the Memorial Day weekend, severely injuring her neck and spinal cord. After emergency spinal fusion surgery and a week in the ICU in Kalispell, Powell is rehabbing in Craig Hospital in Denver for several months.
Stumptown Art Studio will hold a “Painting for a Purpose” community benefit for Powell on June 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. The benefit will include a silent auction, raffle baskets, face painting, crafts and pottery painting, with all proceeds going to Powell’s family to assist with medical and travel expenses.
Jessica Inez, Studio Manager for Stumptown, said as soon as the news of Powell’s injury came out, the community was looking to help.
“The community outreach has been amazing,” Inez said. “I put a little thing on Facebook when [the accident] first happened, and the phone was ringing, the messages coming in. ‘What can we do and how can we do it?’ It’s been pretty neat to see that.”
Inez said she’s been in touch with Powell, who is hopeful to make a recovery, albeit a slow one.
“As far as mobility, it’s limited but there’s progress,” she said. “Everyone seems pretty positive about it. She’s in a wheelchair but they don’t expect her to stay in a wheelchair. It’s a long road.”
Powell’s family started a page on caringbridge.org, a website that allows patients to share health updates, providing journal entry updates and offering ways to help.
Her husband, Charles, has been writing journal posts with Powell’s progress.
“Shelby asked me to write a special post to go to the team at Stumptown Art Studio, and all those that have been involved in the planning of the upcoming event they are hosting at the end of June,” he wrote. “She wanted me to pass along her most sincere and humble thank you to everyone for their generous efforts, thoughts and prayers and willingness to be so selfless as to help with this event. She does not enjoy being the center of attention in general — as such she is very moved by the groundswell of planning and commitment shown by such caring people. That’s about as far as she can get before starting to tear-up.”
At Stumptown Art Studio, Inez said it’s been hard without her coworker and close friend. With all Powell does for the studio, Inez said it’s hard to point to any specific thing.
“It’s hard to say exactly how she impacts the studio because it’s literally everything. It’s this whole space,” she said. “Shelby’s been part of the community forever. She’s been part of this studio for about 22 years, so she’s kind of the face of the studio. You come in and you know Shelby, that’s just how it is.”
For more information on the community benefit or to make a donation of items or services, contact Jessica@StumptownArtStudio.orgor call 406-862-5929.