During Hurricane Sandy hundreds of New York-based artists were seriously impacted by flooding, which in many cases took over studio spaces, destroyed original art work, supplies and archives that can never be replaced. It was damaging to the entire creative community, and many artists are still struggling to recover from the devastation.
To help lesson that blow, NYFA set up the Emergency Relief Fund, a major relief effort to assist artists after the storm. While the fund has already raised $1.5 million, they have requests for up to $10 million from 600 different artists in need of help. Tonight at Cristin Tierney Gallery in New York City, a group of creatives have donated work to Flood the Art Market: Artists Helping Artists Affected by Hurricane Sandy—a silent auction with proceeds going to NYFA’s fund. Hosted by longtime partners Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill/Le Tigre) and the Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz, the items for sale come from some of the most celebrated artists in the area including Charlie Ahearn, Claw Money, Martha Cooper, Mike Giant, Duke Riley, Clams Rockefeller, Scott Sasso, Ellen Schinderman, Jamel Shabazz, The Sucklord, and Zephyr.
“We have received an overwhelming amount of support from the artistic community,” says Hally McGehean, co-founder of Flood the Art Market. “We have original work donated by established artists from all over the country, and are intentionally setting the starting bids well below the market rate so that we encourage healthy bidding and give people a chance to not only help out, but to also own an incredible piece of art.” If you’re in New York and able to attend, it’s also the perfect excuse to rub elbows with some of your musical, and artistic heroes.
Image by Jamel Shabazz, courtesy of Flood the Art Market
