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Sunday, April 12, 2009

Updated: Art for Darfur 2009 offers affordable art and global activism

Updated 04:12 p.m., May 4, 2009

by PegNews wire

By Flickr user Art for Darfur

Art can change the lives of its beholders and Dallas organization Art for Darfur believes it can better the lives of those across the globe as well. Art for Darfur 2009, an evening of silent and live art auctions, will take place Saturday, April 18 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. in the Bob Hope Lobby and Taubman Atrium of Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts building. Proceeds from the event benefit Amnesty International USA’s programs for Darfur, Sudan.

Art for Darfur is a movement in Dallas of students, artists, activists, faith communities, educational institutions and non-profit organizations who recognize the power of community art to raise funds and awareness for the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

“At Art for Darfur we see people from all religious and political backgrounds come together in support of the same reasons: ending the crisis in Sudan and remembering that activism can be fun,” says Tiana Lightfoot, founder and co-director of Art for Darfur.

Art for Darfur is a family-friendly event with free admission for guests under age 12 and free children’s activities will be available from 7:00 – 9:30 p.m. provided by Art Stop in Preston Center. All guests will enjoy live music, spoken-word art performances, food donated by Café Madrid, Gloria’s and For You, European Café and Deli, coffee and Italian soda from Urban Dog Coffee and Central Market catered desserts. Inspired by the letter-writing tradition of Amnesty International, guests of Art for Darfur also have the opportunity to write letters and petition their elected officials on U.S. legislation and actions in Darfur.

Joining the community effort, Plano East Senior High School (PESH) and Coppell High School will donate art pieces to the silent auction. The Amnesty International chapter at PESH has also taken an active role in contributing to the event.

“Students in the Dallas area come together for the cause of Darfur and recognize that we are now in a society were ‘I’ does not matter but ‘we’ matters,” says Plano East High School junior and Amnesty International member, Maya Sachdeva,

This is Art for Darfur’s second fundraiser. In Spring 2008 Art for Darfur raised $10,000, which benefited the Genocide Intervention Network’s civilian protection programs in Darfur.

Earlier this month, Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, received an indictment from the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. In retaliation, Al-Bashir expelled the largest humanitarian aid groups from Darfur. Because of this, it has become increasingly important to support advocacy and watchdog organizations to raise international pressure on the government of Sudan. Amnesty International (AI) is the world’s largest human rights organization and conducts research on the political climate and the status of civilians in Darfur to better educate governments and citizens worldwide. With this knowledge, governments have a more accurate understanding of the situation and can move forward with diplomatic procedures, divestment and negotiations.

“Amnesty International has played a leading role in reminding the world of its obligations, both moral and legal, to work on behalf of victims of oppression,“ says Dr. Rick Halperin, member of the Board of Directors for Amnesty International USA and the director of the Human Rights Education Program at Southern Methodist University.

Admission to Art for Darfur’s April 18 auction is $5 for high school and college students with ID and $10 for adults. Children are admitted without charge. For more information, contact Kristin Schutz at ArtforDarfurDallas@gmail.com or call 763-229-8338. Visit our website at www.artfordarfur.org and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/artfordarfur.

Update: The numbers have come in, and the Art For Darfur event exceeded their goal, making $11, 079.50 going towards Amnesty International's fund for Darfur.

Source: Art for Darfur

Staff
Verified User
Anonymous

Does anyone want to get involved in this event........A/T, ..New things come around...

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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No one wanted to get involved in the original event, this one will probably go un-noticed too.

Rick Yost Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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"2008 Art for Darfur raised $10,000" so you saying they're lying Yost? Ten grand sounds pretty good from a student run charity auction IMO...how are you contributing to charity with statements like that?

HotRodLincoln Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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This is an excellent event organized by energetic, carrying, passionate young people of Dallas. It is fun combined with making positive change in the world... Come and check it out for yourself. I can't wait for this year's event!!!!

alexandrapolka Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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So so real Rick, orignal events are not common in good old jive Dallas...to many cornflakes still here, while I saw Hillybilly all over the week end...then again, we make this place what it is and more power and sucess to the folks with this event for even trying...A/T, Wish well and it will come around good too..

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Would be nice if they returned emails..

Travis Bush Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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If they dont return E mails then they are not full activated....what does Activism mean...pan handling in front of the first Catholic Church...A/T,..got a light buddy..

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Nah, I'm sure they have done a great job AT...maybe just dropped the ball getting back to me...would have loved to give them a piece or two for the auction.

Travis Bush Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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HotRod- The 'original event' I was referring to was the original atrocities suffered by the people of Darfur- an 'event' that not all of the world felt was dire enough to get involved with.
Now, I'll let you get back to your fun. I hope tons of money is raised.

Rick Yost Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Rick... I got it. Still kinda stunning the international complacency. Since when is genocide not newsworthy?

But then there ought to be something like a Cynic-meter assigned to comments. You and I could set our default at "Nuclear Red."
better than emoticons

Jason Rice Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Rick contributes to charity. Any more and we’d have to Canonize him!

jtmbls Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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I'll bring the canon!

Travis Bush Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Heavy sigh

Canonize as in making him a saint, Travis. Do I have to splain everything to you?

jtmbls Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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::making him a saint

That's when they torture you to death and then name a new building after you, right?

Jason Rice Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Technically, I think those would be considered martyrs Jason, but tomato/tahmahto. It all probably sounds torturous to Rick.

jtmbls Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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Can we drag him through the streets anyway?

Jason Rice Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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jtmbls- All this talk of canonization, and then your heavy sighing.
It all sounds so...catholic.

Rick Yost Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Two Our Fathers and one Hail Mary and everything will be all right. I swear!

jtmbls Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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Swearing..really jtmbls...go back to confession this instant!

Travis Bush Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Holy cow Batman, a monkey in our midst, and a half amped Caveman........A/T, To make good art have courage you will be hung well..

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Oh sure jtmbls, instant gratification.

Rick Yost Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Bubbas, bannana's and monkey bean's.....can be quite artistic..while jtmbls, the monkey bean.....has a relgious vision........................?...A/T...

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Considering the canonization process typically isn't complete until after death, blow it out your rear jtm! I don't know many other bartenders so blazing as to actually smoke with Pavel and I on the eve of the ban (which we whole-heartedly support).

Not to mention, until running off hobos is a miracle Yost has some work to do. =p One miracle a saint does not maketh...or something to that effect.

Scott Doyle Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Doyle- :blow it out your... What an uncomfortable thing to ask of jtmbls.

I'll bet if I could run you off I'd be considered by many to be a saint.
But then, who would stir up the...?

Rick Yost Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Bubbas, Hobos and Saints...and Chimps....

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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It's come to this...

Jason Rice Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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I'm willing to bet jtm has done much more uncomfortable things.

Scott Doyle Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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She had to see me in person, burning Bush and all...

Travis Bush Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Rick – There are a few upsides to Catholicism! ;-)

Slanderers!!

I contend I have done nothing uncomfortable or untoward and unless you have photographic evidence, STHUP!

Burning bush? Speak for yourself Travis.

jtmbls Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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The up side to being Cathoic is this....you know a confession has to be said true or you will burn in hell..we Catholic's are told..guilt trips can be conforming and confort, but what does this have to do about art......A/T, ..Buddast Catholic..with blue eye's to see you...

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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::a few upsides to Catholicism!

I love the whole "wash, rinse, repeat" thing of confession. Very reuse/recycle savvy.

Jason Rice Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Yes very Catholic......... there is an art or method in which I recycle my Tobacco sticks......one concept to share to you...Rice....

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Jason - I stole your work of art up there...It is now my profile picture on Linkedin!

jtmbls Anonymous

7 months, 1 week ago
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AT- "...Catholic's are told..guilt trips can be conforming and confort, but what does this have to do about art..."

Catholicism like all religions ARE works of art. They are usually large pieces- either stretched canvas or wall-sculptures.
Painted with dark reds, grays and blacks as the basic undertones, and then layered with wispy brush-strokes, for a light and airy feel. This gives the viewer the feeling that the artist worked from inspiration, not purpose. They're usually hung in conspicuous places where you can't help but see them.
Then, at some point, you're asked to purchase.

"We now return you to our regularly scheduled program."

Rick Yost Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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Well Rick, I got off on that Peg Leg tangent, then again Michael Angleo,painted the Sisten Chapel a Catholic Icon or shall we call it a historical visual image, that upset the Church at the time...

Then in my idolitry of being an artist I have been told by some baptist preachers becuase I make graven images and think such nude thoughts..,I came into relgion,having been razed a Navy seal Cathloic...Yes we Catholic observe freedom and art in nudity, or lets call it free born will to do as you feel ,while we conform to the confort of security......hmmmm, now where is the Roman Road to hypocritcy ...in Dallas Texas, one day they could say Jesus died in a designer suit...thus..in rome....???? Rick you have steel balls ...For bringing this up....A/T, BACK IN 25 MINUTES...

alexander troup Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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::my profile picture on Linkedin!

flattery indeed.

Jason Rice Verified

7 months, 1 week ago
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I had such an amazing time at this event! Picked up some mind-blowing art as well as some beautiful wedding jewelry by local artisans who want to give back to the world.

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