​Supporting Our Friends With Small Gifts

EDS support that lasts a lifetime

Since 2023, I've shared with you a cause that I wholeheartedly support — the Annual ☆ Together We Dazzle ☆ Art Show + Benefit for the Ehlers-Danlos Society. Organized by a dear friend who has been diagnosed with EDS, this event is dear to my heart. This year I've made a brand new painting just for the event*, just completed this past Sunday, and I'd love to share it with you now:

Hendershot's Dazzles, by René Shoemaker

Exploring a new technique of painting on silk, I tested my skills as an illustrator on the interior of Hendershot's (where the art show is happening) and I'm very happy with how this experiment turned out. At 10 x 12 inches, this painting is petite yet impactful. What do you think?

The opening reception is Saturday, May 16th, 3-7 pm, at Hendershot's Cafe, 237 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA.

Working together, Christina and her stable of artists and supporters have raised over $15,000 in donations since the first Dazzle show in 2023! Learn more about the history and meaning behind this annual exhibition here .

In 2023 I wrote a blog post about the first fundraiser here , and in 2024 I described that event here , and in 2025 I shared the story here.

Hendershot's Cafe is a coffee, creativity, and music hub — and is the perfect place to share art, gather together, and support our cause. Live music will be playing during the opening reception from 4-6 pm.

Hendershot's Dazzles (detail)

If you are in Athens, prints of my new painting will be on sale to support the Ehlers-Danlos Society. (Don't you just love the way the bicycle and coffee cups — both veritable symbols of Athens — have been highlighted?)

Come see the exhibition, browse original art and prints, buy zebra art, and support the many local (and not-so-local) artists — you never know what you might want to take home and add to your collection. Let me know what you find!

Many thanks in advance, -Rene

*If interested in purchasing the original painting, Hendershot's Dazzles, with 50% of the price going to the EDS fundraiser, please contact me or Christina directly. Only prints of the new painting will be available during the exhibition.

​Together We Dazzle ​

Annual Art Show & Benefit

Hendershot's Cafe

237 Prince Avenue

Athens, Georgia 30606

Athens, GA

Opening May 16, 3-7 p.m.

On view May 16 - July 4, 2026

Zebras in Athens? Yes!, Together We Dazzle

Zebras in Athens?

- a story of health and perseverance,
gratitude and grace

For the third year, I'm honored to participate in the art exhibition and fundraiser for Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes research (EDS). This cause is dear to my heart, and I wanted to let you know that the closing reception for the Together We Dazzle exhibition will be held on Thursday, October 16th, from 6-8pm at 127 N Jackson St. Athens, GA USA.

Are you in Athens, GA? Can you go support them and stand in for me?

​I wish I were there.

Even if you are far away from Athens, you can browse the offerings online. For more information about EDS and the event, look here. There is an overview of the 2025 exhibiton, events and artwork listing but you can also go directly to the original art page or the prints offered page.

Zebra WILL Dazzle, by René Shoemaker. ink on black board

Christina Joy Littleton is the curator, and she is passionate about this topic.

Christina was diagnosed with EDS in 2021. After a promising career in dance, language, and travel, she had to give up her love for dance as her hypermobile joints—a hallmark of EDS—were causing increased instability and pain, even berfore she knew what the problem was.

As an artist, Christina's reaction to her diagnosis was to build a community to raise awareness and funds for EDS, to help others with the condition. She has been on a path now to help others as she helps herself—through art! She has a busy and productive art career, she is shop manager at the K.A. Artist Shop in Athens, GA, she is a lover of travel—and eclipses—literally!

Astrophotography by Christina Littleton

In the video below, Christina shares a gallery tour of the exhibition. Of course you can make purchases via the K. A. Artist website and they will ship your new art to you.

Christina shares the 2025 exhibition

A portion, if not 100%, of all sales goes toward EDS research.

In 2024, Christina's event raised over $6,000 for EDS research!

Many thanks from both me and Christina and the EDS community if you take a look.

With a love for all things art,

-René

August 1 - October 16, 2025​

​Together We Dazzle​

​K. A. Artist Shop

127 N. Jackson St.

Athens, GA 30601 USA

Whom do you support?

New exhibition in Athens for the Ehlers-Danlos society

You may remember that last year I participated in an exhibition and fundraiser for the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Society. I wrote about it at that time because I wanted to spread the word about EDS and the need for research to help those affected.

And this year I am sharing the celebration and fundraiser again!

As an invited artist, I have four original paintings curated into the fundraising exhibit; 50% of all sales of my artwork will go directly to the EDS Society.

The opening reception for the event will be this Saturday, June 29, 2024 from 3-7 pm in the coffee house, bar and music venue Hendershot’s (which I adore) at 237 Prince Avenue in Athens, GA. There will be lots of energy, lots of guests, and a GREAT reception!

If you are in Athens, I encourage you to stop by. It will be an exciting exhibition and I'm sorry that I am missing it. If you cannot make it on the opening date, the exhibit will remain on view through September 21, 2024, when there will be a closing reception from 3-8 pm.

I am also happy to report that I will continue supporting the EDS Society by donating a portion of all sales in person and in my online shop to the Together We Dazzle fundraiser all year long! EDS has affected someone very dear to me, and as she grows and blossoms within its parameters, her beauty and perseverance grow, too. I am proud to support this cause.

As a consultant to the Dazzle team, I am honored to be listed as a supporter and TWD Collective member.

The Zebra is the EDS symbol, and I have created my own zebra art, which will be on sale as a print, with 100% of the sale going to the fundraiser.

Zebra Will Dazzle, by René Shoemaker

You can see photos of last year's Dazzle exhibition at Five & Ten in Athens here.

Learn more about EDS at this link.

Thanks for following along!