Skip to content

Clearwater painting going to Guatemala

A painting by Clearwater-based artist Irene Gouchie will soon be on its way to Central America
10660073_web1_copy_180222-NTC-LaOracion5615IreneGouchieBillBrierly
Artist Irene Gouchie presents her painting, La Oracion, to Bill Brierly, a board member and founder of Hope of the Pokomchi, a missionary group active in Guatemala. The painting is for the group’s Shekinah education centre in the town of San Cristobal.

By Keith McNeill

A painting by Clearwater-based artist Irene Gouchie will soon be on its way to a place of honour in a mission building in Guatemala.

“Linda Brierly saw a sketch I had done in the Red Umbrella (a faith-based craft store in Clearwater),” Gouchie said. “She really liked it but she thought it was too western. She commissioned me to do a Guatemala version to go in the Shekinah centre.”

READ MORE: Hope of the Pokomchi website

READ MORE: Chu Chua welcomes Guatemalan visitors (Dec. 12, 2011)

Upper Clearwater residents Linda and Bill Brierly have been working as missionaries with the Mayan Pokomchi tribal group in Guatemala since 2000. In 2004 they started the organization Hope of the Pokomchi ASOSAP.

One of their latest projects has been the Shekinah education centre in the town of San Cristobal, said Bill Brierly.

The word Shekinah comes from Hebrew and means “the presence of God is here,” he explained.

The education centre hosts a variety of programs for young people, artisans, those suffering from chronic diseases, nurses in training and church leaders.

Name of the painting is “La Oracion,” which means “the prayer” in Spanish.



newsroom@clearwatertimes.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

10660073_web1_180222-NTC-LaOracionShekinaCenter2016
Above: Photo shows the Shekinah educational centre operated by Hope of the Pokomchi in the town of San Cristobal, Guatemala. The painting by Irene Gouchie will hang in a prominent place in the building. Photo submitted