For the past six years, Hampton House Art and Framing has hosted “Small Art Big Heart” to benefit AIDS Care Service of Winston-Salem.  Mark Hampton, owner of the art gallery says more than 70 artists from the Piedmont-Triad were invited to submit their original works for the show.

“Everything is visual art and is both two and three dimensional sculptural. It’s a small art works, so the two dimensional works have to be 9 X 14 and smaller and the three dimensional works of a comparable size. When people walk in, they can see affordable artwork at all different price ranges,” says Hampton.

According the latest statistics from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, more than 26,000 people in the state are living with HIV. In 2011, 830 new AIDS cases were reported in North Carolina.

AIDS Care Service of Winston-Salem provides support and services for those infected and affected with HIV and AIDS in Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin Counties. Hampton says 20 percent of the proceeds from the art work sold will benefit the organization.

“They provide transitional housing to clients, job training, food and medication to help service those who have HIV AIDS. The money that we have raised so far is equivalent to months and months if not years of medication because the medication is so expensive,” says Hampton.

The “Small Art Big Heart” benefit will be held Friday, February 8 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hampton House Art and Framing at 720 Coliseum Drive.