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The Big Picture With a record-shattering painting,artist Eric Waugh hopes to raise millions for kids with AIDS and other ills.

People Magazine Jan 21, 2001 When Eric Waugh unveiled his grandest work ever on Dec. 1 on the grounds of the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, the guest list went beyond the usual art fanciers. First there was the rep from the Guinness World Records, on hand to certify that Waugh's Hero is the world's largest painting by one person. More important, though, in the cheering crowd were two HIV-psitive children, among the thousands Waugh, 38, hopes to help as the 180-ft.-by-230-ft.work is sold off in chunks. "Eric has extaordinary compassion," say Neil Willenson,31,CEO of Camp Heartland, an out-door retreat for kids with HIV/AIDS,based in Willow River, Minn. "And he thinks big."

The idea for Hero was born in 1995, when Waugh, lounging in his Montreal home, caught a documentary about a heartland camper with AIDS (Before Your Eyes: Angelies Secret). "I thought of my healthy boys I had just tucked in," says the artist and father of three. He turned to wife Dini, 39, and said, "I've got to help." Soon afterward he created a small semiabstract painting of an adult embracing a child and donated it a s a fund raising poster for the camp. The print raised thousands of dollars and even made a cameo on Seinfeld and ER. "But I wanted to make a bigger impact," says Waugh, who set about expanding Hero to epic proportions.

The work, made of 1,656 canvases hooked together, will be cut into some 41,000 peices and sold for from $80.00 to $2,000.00 each to benefit Heartland and the Los Angeles based Starlight Children's Foundation for ailing kids. Waugh, who often spent 21-hour days working on the project, will now focus his energy on sons Alex, 11, Andrew, 8, and Matthew, 4. Says Dini: "It's time to go back to our nest and just cocoon."



News Main Articles Television and Radio appearances	The Big Picture With a record-shattering painting,artist Eric Waugh hopes to raise millions for kids with AIDS and other ills. People Magazine Jan 21, 2001 When Eric Waugh unveiled his grandest work ever on Dec. 1 on the grounds of the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, the guest list went beyond the usual art fanciers. First there was the rep from the Guinness World Records, on hand to certify that Waugh's Hero is the world's largest painting by one person. More important, though, in the cheering crowd were two HIV-psitive children, among the thousands Waugh, 38, hopes to help as the 180-ft.-by-230-ft.work is sold off in chunks. "Eric has extaordinary compassion," say Neil Willenson,31,CEO of Camp Heartland, an out-door retreat for kids with HIV/AIDS,based in Willow River, Minn. "And he thinks big." The idea for Hero was born in 1995, when Waugh, lounging in his Montreal home, caught a documentary about a heartland camper with AIDS (Before Your Eyes: Angelies Secret). "I thought of my healthy boys I had just tucked in," says the artist and father of three. He turned to wife Dini, 39, and said, "I've got to help." Soon afterward he created a small semiabstract painting of an adult embracing a child and donated it a s a fund raising poster for the camp. The print raised thousands of dollars and even made a cameo on Seinfeld and ER. "But I wanted to make a bigger impact," says Waugh, who set about expanding Hero to epic proportions. The work, made of 1,656 canvases hooked together, will be cut into some 41,000 peices and sold for from $80.00 to $2,000.00 each to benefit Heartland and the Los Angeles based Starlight Children's Foundation for ailing kids. Waugh, who often spent 21-hour days working on the project, will now focus his energy on sons Alex, 11, Andrew, 8, and Matthew, 4. Says Dini: "It's time to go back to our nest and just cocoon."