JENNA JAUREGUI
FEATURES EDITOR
Art communities may be the first targets for budget cuts, but they are also the first to help others in need. April 21 – 27, the Art Association at CSUSM is holding an art auction to benefit relief efforts in Japan. All of the proceeds go towards the victims affected by the earthquakes and tsunami floods that devastated the country on March 11.
Strong aftershocks from the initial earthquake continue to shake Japan, reaching up to magnitude 7.1 and causing more deaths and destruction. The horrific images and heart-breaking stories plastered in newspapers across America have many people wondering what they can do to help. One way that CSUSM students can contribute to the relief effort is to donate art and attend the art auction.
Students can drop off their art submissions on April 18, 19 and 20 during U-hour in Arts 111. All mediums are accepted. Email your name, title of your art piece and medium to Morgan Hefley at [email protected]. Bidding begins April 21 and ends on the 27. Hefley was able to answer some questions regarding the art auction; additional information is available at csusm.edu/ news/articles/ArtsAuction.
The Pride: What inspired this idea? How did the idea of a benefit art auction come to be?
Morgan Hefley: The benefit art auction idea started with the willingness of Arts Association artists last spring, when we all decided to do a similar event, The Hope for Haiti Art Auction, to help aid Haiti. The auction was successful and we were able to send over $200 via the Red Cross to Haiti in their time of need. At the beginning of this semester we decided to do a second philanthropy gallery and began looking for a cause to which we could donate. We started working towards one particular cause, but the dual natural disaster in Japan essentially fell into our laps. No one had any idea that this would occur, and it seemed that our event would be best directed towards aiding Japan.
TP : How much money does the event hope to raise?
MH: We would like raise as much money as possible. If I might make so bold as to throw a number out, I would love to see us raise at least $400 dollars. But it largely depends on the number of art submissions in the gallery, how much the artist will place for the opening bid and of course, those bidding on the art. The last Art Auction resulted in just over $200; I would love for that to be essentially doubled.
TP: Do art submissions for the auction need to be of a particular skill level?
MH: The Art Association accepts and encourages all CSUSM students, whether members of Arts Association or not, to exhibit their work in the galleries. All of our exhibits are the result of the hard work, ingenuity and creativity of CSUSM students. In any of our galleries, not just the benefit auction, we only ask that students take pride in their work and others work by submitting their best.
TP : Where will the money go? In what form will it be donated?
MH: All of the proceeds, like the last Art Auction, will be donated to Japan through the Red Cross. I do want to be specific that all the proceeds will be going to Japan, not a percentage.
TP: If this event is a success, will there be other possible auctions for different charities?
MH: I think it is safe to say that if these benefit art auctions continue to be a success, that the students of CSUSM will see more of this caliber of events. However, it depends largely on the members of the Art Association as well as the executive officers, who decide whether they want to pursue these events or not. Several of us are graduating, and new executive members will be taking the helm next semester. We hope to hold elections by the end of this semester, and any CSUSM students who wish to become an integral part of this awesome art community and help plan such events as the Art Auction for Japan are welcome to run.
TP: Do you have any words of encouragement for artistic students who may be hesitant to submit their work?
MH: Again, I would like emphasize that the Art Association welcomes and encourages all CSUSM students, whether members of the Art Association or not, to submit their work. This is the students’ Art Association. It belongs to all of us, and we want to see your projects and magnum opuses receive all the attention they deserve. We provide the opportunity for the entire CSUSM student body, as well as faculty and visiting community to view it. So far, for this Art Auction, we have a tentative schedule of submissions of photography, paintings and jewelry design. We hope to see more as we get closer to the exhibit installation, which is on April 18, 19 and 20 from noon – 1 p.m. in the Arts lobby outside of Arts 111.
Photo courtesy of The Arts Association