From left, Suzanne Jacobson, president of QuickStart - Early Intervention for Autism, with board member Cindy Harrison and one of her new purchases at the Art for Autism sale held Sunday, June 28, 2015, at the private home of Dr. Len and Marie Chumak in the Ottawa neighbourhood of Whitehaven, off Woodroffe Avenue. (Caroline Phillips / Ottawa Citizen) Photo by Caroline Phillips

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Nary a guest was seen leaving empty-handed from the Art for Autism sale held Sunday afternoon inside the home of Dr. Len Chumak from Centrepointe Orthodontics and his wife, former high school teacher-turned law student Maria Chumak.

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The Chumaks, who have a young son with autism, live in a new urban infill development in Whitehaven, off Woodroffe Avenue.

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A total of 103 pieces of art work — ranging from paintings to jewelry to sculptures and priced from $25 to $2,500 — were donated by emerging and established artists and art collectors to help raise funds for QuickStart, a charitable organization that provides early intervention services to young children with autism. There were also paintings for sale done by children on the autism spectrum.

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On hand was QuickStart founder and president Suzanne Jacobson, a grandmother of two boys with autism. She expressed her gratitude to the Chumaks for letting them invade their home for a third year. “It is invasive,” she continued. “We were here for five or six hours yesterday, setting up.”

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Last year, Art for Autism turned into a poolside backyard benefit, raising $13,000, but Sunday’s rainy weather confined it to an indoor event this time around. The wall-to-wall art show filled every room and hallway and occupied every couch, chair and small table on the ground floor.

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“I’m happy to do it again, if we can manage it,” Maria told Around Town. “We’re wondering if this venue is getting too small.”

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Among those spotted at the art sale were Ottawa artist Katherine Jeans, who donated one of her orchid paintings to the show, and speech language pathologist and QuickStart board member Cindy Harrison, who picked up several new pieces of art.

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The private home of Dr. Len and Maria Chumak was filled with 103 pieces of art donated by emerging and established artists, as well as art collectors, for sale on Sunday, June 28, 2015, to raise funds for QuickStart, a charitable organization that provides early intervention to young children with autism. Photo by Caroline Phillips

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The private home of Dr. Len and Maria Chumak was filled with 103 pieces of art donated by emerging and established artists, as well as art collectors, for sale on Sunday, June 28, 2015, to raise funds for QuickStart, a charitable organization that provides early intervention to young children with autism. Photo by Caroline Phillips

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From left, Suzanne Jacobson, president of QuickStart – Early Intervention for Autism, with hosts Maria Chumak and Ottawa orthodontist Len Chumak and visual artist Katherine Jeans at the Art for Autism benefit held Sunday, June 28, 2015 at the Chumaks’ home in the Whitehaven neighbourhood off Woodroffe Avenue. Photo by Caroline Phillips

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Ysaac Lopez and his wife, Lisa, were seen leaving the Chumaks’ Whitehaven home on Sunday, June 28, 2015, with armloads of art, including a pirate piece for their grandson, purchased at the Art for Autism benefit for QuickStart, a charitable organization that helps young children with autism. Photo by Caroline Phillips

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From left, Shannon MacDonald and Cassandra Tonon, seen checking out a landscape by Ottawa artist David Casey, attended the Art for Autism benefit held at a private home on Sunday, June 28, 2015, for QuickStart, a charitable organization that provides early intervention autism services. Photo by Caroline Phillips

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