Pam Whitworth has gathered artisan treasures from around the world for the Aid to ICON Benefit, September 7, 2008.
What would the world be without beauty? People in every age have made beautiful things, surrounding themselves with objects that please the eye and the senses: painting, sculpture, textiles, pottery, ornaments of all descriptions, gardens, homes. . . the urge to create is a powerful one. The arts are a kind of aesthetic and spiritual biosphere, necessary to our evolution and, not incidentally, our joy in being creative beings.
We all create. Each in our own sphere. This month, in a time when we’re all being asked to contribute to this or that very worthy cause, we’re asking you to consider supporting the arts. And to make it easy for you, we’ve listed a few ways you can help out now.
Iowa Artists Relief Fund
The Cedar Rapids folks who lost their businesses in the downtown area flood aren’t waiting around for the feds to—some day—pony up relief. Witness the major success of the Hoopin’ it Up for Humanity benefit on Aug. 30-31! And not to forget artists, the wonderful arts organization Legion Arts (temporarily headquartered in a Quality Inn due to flooding of their CSPS building) has established an Iowa Artist Relief Fund, in cooperation with the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. It supports artists who have lost studios and tools, equipment and musical instruments, canvases and manuscripts, photos and archives, even their homes, as a result of the flooding.
To make a tax-deductible donation, go to www.legionarts.org, click the “Donate Now” button, and specify “Artist Relief Fund” in the appropriate space. For more information, please email John at john@legionarts.org, or call (319) 721-8484.
UIMA Museum pARTy!
You may remember from last month’s issue that three feet of water flooded the University of Iowa Museum of Art. But the good news is—they rescued the art!
Now you can help keep the museum afloat by attending the Museum pARTy! on October 11, 7-11 p.m., at Hotel Vetro, 201 S. Linn St., in downtown Iowa City. The Museum pARTy! will include a strolling feast and music by local soul sensations The Diplomats of Solid Sound, featuring the Diplomettes.
The Museum of Art needs your help now more than ever. You can help by giving to UIMA Flood Recovery, adopting a UIMA work of art that was evacuated during the flood, sponsoring a UIMA project or exhibition, or attending the Museum pARTy!
Call (319) 335-1727 or email uima@uiowa.edu for more information.
Aid for ICON Benefit
On Sunday, September 7, Fairfield artist Pam Whitworth will host a fundraising sale of stunning art objects she has gathered from around the world to benefit Fairfield’s non-profit ICON Gallery and its work in bringing the best big-city art to this arts-crazy town.
You can browse, drink chai tea, and choose from carefully selected artisan treasures from Chile, China, Peru, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Tibet, Nepal, Burma, Vietnam, Japan, Mongolia, Brazil, Mexico, India, Thailand, and the Georgian Republic. There’ll be a wide selection of items under $20 as well as rare and exquisite “master craftsman” objects priced up to $350: wool rugs, miniature paintings, handwoven silk and ikat scarves, charming folk toys, embroidered bags, woodblock prints, jewelry, handmade textiles and appliqué, unusual art supplies, and many other gift items.
Gather together in celebration of beauty and in support of the arts in Fairfield and fellow artists around the world on September 7, 11 a.m. –5 p.m., at the home of Pam Whitworth and Jon Lipman, 1760 Observatory Drive, Fairfield. For more information or directions, call (641) 472-8955.
For more articles on arts and artists, see the Index.