AFI Dallas’ Michael Cain promotes upcoming Live Draw! charity event

by John P. Meyer

Described as "forward thinking and tastefully bold," Live Draw! 2008 marks the second annual cancer relief benefit event to allow attendees a glimpse into the creative process of artists as they do their art-creating thing live on the spot, then rip the sketches from their fancy-dancy artists pads and auction off their work to the highest bidders.

Co-chair Michael Cain (along with fellow chairperson Melina McKinnon-Cain) is inviting all this Thurs. evening, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. to the newly renovated Orion Ballroom at 400 S. Zang Blvd. - formerly Top O' The Cliff.

In these deluxe digs, renowned for their spectacular vistas (situated as they are on the 15th floor of the Bank of America building), there will be other breathtaking views on display as eight figure artists and three models participate in “Nudes with a View,” during which they will do life drawing in front of a live audience.

The artists - including special guest artist Kevin Rolly - will unleash their brushes, pencils and who knows what else, demonstrating a range of styles and techniques in indulgence of their various muses. The artworks thus created will increase in value over the course of the evening as arts patrons (and philanthropists) bid them up.

Other artists slated to participate are Alejandro Gehry, Arthur "Artman" James, Hollis James Hoff, Fausin Mdisa, Brandon Oldenburg, Bob Poe, Elaine Schindler and an unnamed art student from Booker T. Washington H.S. in Dallas.

Cocktails and hors d'oeuvres will "flow all night," thereby loosening up the purse strings of potential bidders.

D Magazine and international art dealer Delia Cabral are co-sponsoring the event under the auspices of Arts Fighting Cancer, founded in 1999 after Michael Cain's father (following his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer) laid down a mandate to "make people's lives better while you are able to do so."

Doors open at 6:30, and you can purchase tickets in advance here for $75. Or pay $100 at the door on the night of the event.

NOTE that artists models will be starkers (as all good artists models eventually arrange to be), so attendance is limited to those 14 and up - with the provision that minors are accompanied by a parental unit.