(Airbrush) Artists - Blowing Away Diabetes

You may have read about this on an artists message board here is our cause.

www.dallasandreidsride.org is an organization of people devoted to finding a CURE for Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1).  They organize an annual ride, and several satellite events to raise money, and ALL money collected, yes 100% ALL money that is collected and sent to the Join Lee Now Foundation ( www.joinleenow.org ).  How can we do this?  It is not easy!  Thanks to the hard work of the committee, volunteers, and our AMAZING sponsors, it is possible.  The first year there were 600 participants, last year there were over 800 participants, this year with some of our new sponsors giving us TV ad space everyday for a month, we expect we will see 1500 participants.

One of the ways money is raised at our main event on Sept. 15th 2007 is a Silent Auction.  My wife and I have the honor of coordinating this, and the organization has had much success in gathering some wonderful items to auction, again thanks to hard work, and some wonderful sponsors.

Here is the pitch!  Very few people have what you can call an art collection, and while a piece of art is a beautiful thing, sometimes they are difficult to sell, difficult for the buyer to mix and match, and a collection of work from a single artist tends to lack the dynamics of appealing to different people.

Finally we are at the concept!  Ready made art collections, gathered from artists everywhere who have a moment to sling some paint, all as different and unique as the artists that create them.  A collection would probably be from 4 to 6 artists or pieces of art, depending on the pieces, and how many artists wish to be involved.   So your piece would be put together with other artists pieces.  The only thing we want to keep in mind is that this is a family event and to keep the audience in mind, art is art and we all understand that, just keep in mind that there will be some younger viewers.

I have had a few ask what kind of art, what surface, etc... so the FAQ goes like this....
Theme:  This is an eclectic bunch paint what you paint, create what you create.
Surface: Panels, canvases, etc.... I don't care as long as its not going to rot, walk away, or bark.  You want to flame a butterfly collection? (holy crap that's a cool idea! note to self) Paint lampshades, tank blanks, fenders, tire covers, a scrap of leather, wherever your imagination takes you! 
This is the PERFECT time to do that thing you always wanted to do, that creative project that seemed just a bit out there.  Collaborate with other artists to do a single piece or create your own themed collections, matching subject or colors or whatever.
The ideas are yours to have and exploit as you wish.
How many pieces would an artist need to make?: Just one it will be grouped with other work from other artists.

Why do I care so much?  Like many of you I have a loved one with Type 1 Diabetes, for those of you who are not familiar, Type 1 is not a dietary issue, its an auto immune problem that causes the body to stop producing insulin.  Insulin is the key to your body burning sugar for fuel.  If it can't, the sugar backs up gets high (because the body cant use it) and can cause serious health problems, even death.  So an insulin injection is required for every meal, and as corrections throughout the day, as well as several blood sugar tests everyday.  I will save the horror stories of too much or too little insulin which is an ever changing need.  Currently my daughter Tessa has had 7,665 injections, and 10,859 blood drop, finger prick, glucose tests, and 1 seizure, and 2 hospitalizations.  This disease can not be controlled by diet and exercise, though these things help make ups and downs more consistent, there is no way it will eliminate the need for insulin, or how often it is needed.  That is what drives me, and the chance that my other daughter could develop the condition as well.

As stated above the organization can incur no costs, I however will help out of my pocket all that I can, that still is not much, but you never know, so if you can help, but need some assistance let me know.  If you want to collaborate on a project, as I do, enter one of the messages boards and post what you are looking for.  Feel free to spread the word to other boards, friends, artists groups.  Direct cash donations to www.dallasandreidsride.org.  Thank you.  You can contact me at don@visualimpactart.com .

So far these fine people have stepped forward. (8/04/07)