Culture Fiend

Seattle Arts Rally for Japan

Money raised during art sales and auctions will support earthquake/tsunami aid.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Mar 18, 2011 at 02:00PM 0 Comments

Wall Space Gallery’s sale of photography, including Kerry Mansfield’s 2011 print No. 61, supports Japan.

Over on our Nosh Pit blog, Chris Werner has been keeping tabs on the generous donations Seattle restaurateurs have made to Japan for earthquake relief. Now the Seattle arts community is lending a hand as well.

Crista Dix of Wall Space Gallery has organized an online sale of prints from photographers around the world, with more than $10,000 already raised for Direct Relief International and Habitat for Humanity Japan. Dix (whose photography gallery also rallied on behalf of Haiti in 2010) and friends/colleagues are calling their outreach Life Support Japan; find out more at wall-spacegallery.com.

As of today, nearly 80 artists (including Roger Shimomura and Maki Tamura) have committed to donating work to the Artists for Japan art sale on March 26 and 27 at gallery KOBO in the International District. All proceeds go to the International Red Cross, and the Murakami family (of Higo Variety Store) will also match up to $10,000 in donations raised. Find out more at artistsforjapan.blogspot.com.

Bellevue Arts Museum will donate one-third of ticket sales from its Finally Friday late-night museum party on March 25 to the American Red Cross. The evening features the new Wanxin Zhang exhibit—ceramic warriors inspired by the Terracotta Army in China—plus lion dances and wushu demonstrations. Tickets ($5–$10) are available at bellevuearts.org.

SeattleJapanRelief, a citywide collaboration of Japanese-American civic and cultural leaders, will hold a community gathering and ceremony on Saturday, March 19, from 11am-1pm at Seattle Center’s Kobe Bell (north of the International Fountain). According to the press release, Gov. Gregoire, Congressman Jim McDermott, Consul General Kiyokazu Ota, and Seattle Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith will make brief remarks; Rev. Taijo Imanaka of the Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Temple will lead a prayer for missing or lost loved ones; and people will have a chance to ring the Kobe Bell (a 1962 World’s Fair gift from Kobe, Japan) to honor those who have suffered or perished during the tragedy.

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Tags: Wall Space Gallery, Bellevue Arts Museum, Japan Relief Efforts

Updated: With ‘Haiti We Stand’

More local A&E organizations rally to send aid to earthquake victims.

Posted by: Laura Dannen on Jan 20, 2010 at 10:00AM 1 Comments

Emily Nathan, Green Sea, 2009; prints for sale at wall space gallery. Proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders.

A 6.1 magnitude aftershock rocked Haiti early this morning, just days after a 7.0 earthquake destroyed its capital and left an estimated 3 million people without food, water, shelter, or medical assistance.

To put this in perspective, the earthquake that destroyed San Francisco in 1906 ranked a 7.9. The one that started the 2004 tsunami was a 9.1, though the death toll in Haiti could be comparable, news outlets are reporting.

Haiti needs our help more than ever. Local arts and entertainment organizations continue to rally to send aid—here’s the latest lineup of benefit concerts and events:

JANUARY 20

The Stranger reports that Re-bar will host a benefit concert with sets by DJs Robwhy, Recess (Shameless), Queen Lucky, and more. Proceeds from the door and PBR sales will be divided between the Red Cross and Yele Haiti. 8pm, $8 or $5 with a nonperishable donation.

The Seattle jazz community rallies behind one of its own to organize a series of live jazz acts at seven University District venues, from 9pm-midnight. Checks, cash, and emergency donations will be accepted and will go straight to Haiti, thanks to David Pierre-Louis, owner of LUCID Jazz Lounge who just flew to Haiti to check on his mother (she’s okay) and plans to return ASAP to provide aid. For more information and a complete lineup of bands, click here or visit LucidSeattle.com.

JANUARY 25

Gethsemane Lutheran Church and Happy Hour Concerts will co-host a classical music benefit at the church’s downtown location (911 Stewart Street) at 7pm. Suggested $25 donations be forwarded to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) International Disaster Response.

JANUARY 28

Local bands The Maldives, Sweet Water, Vince Mira, Classic Crime, Memphis Radio Kings, and Mike Herrera of MXPX have already signed on to perform at the Moore Theatre in what could be the biggest local benefit this month. All proceeds from this concert and a silent auction will go to the Red Cross, with the goal of raising $20,000 for aid for the people of Haiti. Concert organizers Cody Rossen with Maker’s Mark, the Seattle Theatre Group and a host of local businesses are updating on the event’s website, SeattleHelpingHaiti.com , so check it now for the latest lineup and ticket information. 8pm, $15.

Consider stopping by The Pike Brewing Co before the concert for Washington for Haiti, a benefit organized by Seattle Greendrinks, Seattle Microfinance (SeaMo), ReVision Labs, Global Washington, and Seattle Works. Donations ($20 suggested at the door) will go to microfinance institute Fonkoze, ’Haiti’s Alternative Bank for the Organized Poor.’ Representatives from Fonkoze will discuss their relief projects, and Sunday Evening Whiskey Club will provide entertainment. 6-9pm, $20.

FEBRUARY 4

Neumos and Seattle’s hip hop community join forces for the Haiti Relief Benefit Show, featuring Common Market, The Physics, Dino Jamz, SOL, break crew Flying Sneakers, and hosted by Haitian-American Khingz of Abyssinian Creole. Advance tickets ($10) are on sale at Moe Bar, Rudy’s Barbershops, select QFCs, or online here. All proceeds go to Doctors Without Borders. All-ages show; doors open at 7.

ONGOING

Artist Jeff Antebi, whose photograph of the Haitian slum Cite Soleil is on display in wall space gallery’s New Directions 2010 exhibit, will donate all money made from the sale of those prints to Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. Photographer Emily Nathan also just agreed to donate proceeds from Green Sea to Doctors Without Borders. Email gallery@wallspeaceseattle.com with questions. $25, 206-330-9137.

The Seattle Office of Film and Music is also constantly updating its list of benefits around the city. Click here for the latest roundup.

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Tags: music, Mike Herrera, Wall Space Gallery, Memphis Radio Kings, Sweet Water, The Maldives, Vince Mira, Moore Theatre, Disaster relief, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, LUCID Jazz Lounge, Seattle jazz, Haiti, Classic Crime,