ARTISTS RESCUE TEAM for JAPAN

TWO-DAY ART BENEFIT EVENT FOR EARTHQUAKE & TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN JAPAN

Friday & Saturday, June 10 - 11, 2011

All art less than $200

Amina Ahmed, Reiko Aizawa, Arturo Amaya, Kakeru Asai, Sharon Ascher, Stephen Auslander, Noah Baen, Michael Bales, Donna Balma, Ayako Bando, Carole Barlowe, Maryanska Basha, Diana Becerra Bayona, Robert Beal, Olivia Beens, Jeffrey Berman, Marcia Bernstein, Bienvenido Bones Banez, Annaliese Bischoff, Tomek Bogacki, Benjamin Bohnsack, Alan Bolle, Paul Brainard, Beryl Brenner, Liubov Brizhatiuk, Orin Buck, Michael Cavayero, Elisa Chalem, Greg Chann, John Cichowski, Angela Cole, Coco Masuda Comitini, Edward Coppola, Ersilia Crawford, Suzanne Ives Cunningham, Marina Daneva, Donn Davis, Kikuko Doi, Diane En, Pamela Enz, Camilla Falcon, Carmen Frank, Tomoko Fujiki, Akiko Furukawa, Ayakoh Furukawa, Ania Gilmore, Randy Globus, Jacek Gulla, Wil Hallgren Rebekkah Hallgren, Takuya Hayaki, Neddi Heller, Christine Herman, Edward Herman, Halona Hilbertz, Miho Hiranouchi, Tom Hooper, Sheryl Humphley, Kuni Iizuka, Kunio Ilzuka, Junichiro Ishida, Yoko Ishikawa, Naoki Iwakawa, Susan Jacobs, HOPE JAPAN, Sam Jungkurth, Farnaz K, Sachi Kabeya, Aya Kakeda, Yu Kanbayashi, Miki Katagiri, Sun Young Kang, Mikiko Kanno, Hide Kawabata, Takeshi Kawashima, Tamiko Kawata, Mildred Kaye, David B. Kelly, Suprina Kenney, Maho Kino, Sonomi Kobayashi, Kenji Kojima, Yasutaka Kojima, Frank Krasicki, Lynn Kroll, Keiko Kubota, Naruki Kukita, Ryosuke, Kumakura, Masato Kuroda, Taehyub Lee, Estell Levy, Paulien Leithen, Terrance Lindall, Sheena Liu, Liz N-Val, Christopher LoPresti, Barbara Lubliner, Bix Lye, Jacek Maczynski, Riza Manalo, Basha Maryanska, Tokoha Matsuda, Margo Mead, Gail Michell, Sharon Miller, Sharon Mills, Junko Miyakoshi, Makiko Miyamoto, Shigekazu Morito, Yasumitsu Morito, Shige Moriya, Walter L Mosley, Shinji Murakami, Irmari Nacht, Yoko Naito, Izumi Nakamura, Manami Nakano, Vernita Nemec, Vernita N’cognita, Toshiko Nishikawa, Jodie Niss, Masaaki Noda, Hiromi Nomurajima, Yumiko Nolan, Nicki Orbarch, Tomoko Oka, Kooan Okawa, Kazuo Ooka, Yoshiaki Otsuka, Shigeru Oyatani, Kasia Ozga, Isaac Pelepko, Maurizio Pellgrin, Carmen Porfido, James Prez, Jeffrey Alen Price, Jennifer Primosch, Carol Quint, Renee Radenberg, Jacques Roch, Edith Rojas, Robin Ross, Cheryl Safren, K. Saito, Kiyoko Sakai, Shunji Sakuyama, Kenjiro Sasaki, Koki Sato, Masaaki Sato, Nolil-Katz Sawaka, Julie Joy Saypoff, Larry Scaturro, Tasneem Shazad, Yoshiyuki Shimamoto, Jun Shoji, Shohei Shoji, Joel Simpson, Katherine Ellinger Smith, Linda Smith, Andrea Spiros, Caryl Stern, Freiman Stoltzfus, Kumiko Suda, Mayumi Sue, Jennifer Sullivan, Miho Takai, Kyoko Takei, Akemi Takeda, Motohiro Takeda, Fumiha Tanaka, Yasuyo Tanaka, Kaori Takami, Nicole Titus, Alice Topalian, Rumi Tsuda, Yuko Uchida, Angela Valeria, Jania Vanderwerff, Joy Walker, Steven Walker Frank Webster, Mary Westring, Marcia Widenor, Constance Williams, Chi Fung Wong, Phyllis Yampolsky, Junko Yoda

Summary of “A Two-Day Art Benefit Event for Earthquake & Tsunami Victims in Japan”

On behalf of the WAH Center Artists Rescue Team for Japan I would like to thank you all for your kind participation in our “Two Day Art Benefit Event for Earthquake & Tsunami Victims in Japan" on June 10th and 11th.

Friday, June 10 was one of the hottest days for the early summer season and even much hotter everywhere in our building, but people's high spirits and positive energy were dispersed throughout the building. I sincerely hoped that the goodwill and high spirits we all shared have reached to those who are still suffering in Japan three months after the tragic day 3/11/11.

The event was a great success. This was due to the generous artists who kindly donated the high quality of artworks (326 works by 170 artists) and those who came to purchase the artworks, and the enthusiastic audience who came to enjoy the performance programs by 17 outstanding groups, both music and dance performers. All of them had previously performed at the WAH Center, and ever since I've been following their professional careers and they have now achieved great recognition in the performance world. I invited all of them to perform for our special event. To them it was a homecoming and to me it was a heartwarming welcoming back performance showcase.
And the generous local business people kindly donated to us bountiful delicious Asian foods (Japanese, Chinese and Thai) and cold drinks of wine, beer, various flavored Japanese tea, soda and water.

We couldn’t have succeeded with the big event without the hardworking 40 volunteers, including 21 Artists Rescue Team members who helped us in various duties day and night for many hours behind the scenes and at the sites, and 19 other volunteers who helped at the sites being concession helpers, errand runners, art buyers’ assistants, artwork wrappers, cleaners, and others. Their efforts were united with one single goal, which was to bring our event to its successful fruition.

Everybody enjoyed a terrific program of art exhibition and sale, performance program plus fashion show while savoring delicious foods and cold drinks.

Our mission was completed and it was a success!

The total proceeds from our Benefit Event amounted to $15,025, which we think is pretty good for Brooklyn, as Manhattan is where many art collectors/buyers live while Brooklyn is a home for artists to live and work.

I thank you again for being part of our noble cause.

It is very sad to know that the numerous victims in the Tohoku are still suffering from the devastation of the natural disaster, and still yet the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plants’ serious problems haven’t been completely solved! I fear many negative things have been happening in every corner of the world, the economical downslide, political and religious conflicts and social turmoil besides the natural catastrophic disasters such as earthquakes, Tsunamis, forest fires, floods, tornadoes, droughts, all of which are beyond our human control, but our life is affected one way or another. We are all interconnected with each other on this small plant Earth, from which we cannot escape. While we wish to strive for a happy and peaceful life, it seems like an endless struggle for the billions of world population to achieve their ideal goal in a short time. While life goes on, we are witnessing on or in various media one of the worst kinds of life threatening crises taking places in front of our very eyes as if we are watching surrealistic films, not wishing or even believing that they are actually happening in our reality.

But, as we know the fact that nothing stays the same forever, we hope to see the bright future in our life time.
But, don't wait for the future to com. Don't depend upon the others or our government.

We have to start now in our small way by trying to make our life pleasant and peaceful with human relationships and with our environment, conserving energy and natural resources, and we have to think for those who would come tomorrow.

Have a pleasant summer.
With Many Thanks and Warmest Regards,
Yuko Nii, Director of the Artists Rescue Team for Japan
Founder & Artistic Director
WAH Center (Williamsburg Art & Historical Center)

Friday, June 10^th
5- 6pm	Early Viewing for Art Benefit Exhibition
6-10pm	Artworks Sale & 'Facets of Fashion' Fashion Show
8-11pm	Dance & Music Performances Music: Sachi Issui Minegishi (One-String Koto) Peter Dizozza (Piano) & Monica Dizozza (Vocal) Andrew Bolotowsky (Flute) & Mary Hurlburt (Vocal) Andrew Bolotowsky (Flute) & Judith St. Croix (Vocal) Dance: BINBIN FACTORY- Satoshi Saga & Rie Fukuzawa Anita Chen Dance Company with Ronaldo Kiel (Video) Chikako Iwahori, Felip, & Lynn Short (Tap Dance) with Kaoru Watanabe ( Bamboo Flute) & Moroccan Singer as Special Guest Ariane Anthony, The Construction Company Kiyoko Kashiwagi (Anime Dance)
Saturday, June 11^th
5- 6pm	Early Viewing for Art Benefit Exhibition
6-10pm	Sale of Unsold Works from Friday’s exhibition and New Works
8-11pm	Dance and Music Performances Music: Elodie Lauten (Piano) Peter Arvo (Guiter) & Michael Bales (Violin) Dance: Yana Schnitzler Human Kenetics - Masumi Kishimoto: & Eva Perrot: David Appel & His Friends Zack Fuller with Jeff Arnal on Percussion & Jonathan Vincent on Piano Akiko Furukawa & Her Friends Nana Masuda: "Little Swan Lake" and "Little Chicago Naoki Iwakawa (Action Painting) with Carlo Altomarte on Piano)

On March 11, 2011 a catastrophic 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit the northeast (Tohoku) coast of Japan followed by the deadly Tsunami. The Tsunami waves' height was nearly 48 feet (15 meters) in many areas, and the Tsunami traveled at 26.25' (8 meters) per second in many areas, the speed of an Olympic Athlete. According to the report as of April 22, 326,000 buildings and 3,700 roads were damaged or destroyed. The death toll is 14,000, more than 12,000 are still missing and 131,000 victims are still living in evacuation centers without adequate facilities. The Japanese government estimated that the direct damages to buildings and infrastructure alone could amount to $310 billion dollars (26 trillion yen), excluding the loss of agricultural lands and the disastrous damage of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant. The relief for Tohoku has been quite slow to arrive to the needy. People outside Japan tend to think Japan is a wealthy country that doesn’t need to be supported financially, but the loss and damage are enormous and the recovery will take many years to come. JAPAN NEEDS SUSTAINING SUPPORT..

Many benefit events have been held all over the city as soon as the tragic news spread in NY City, and news reports that the benefit events have been very successful, which shows the beauty of the human spirit in a time of great tribulation. People are essentially good and this reinforces my belief in the loving kindness of all humanity.

WAH Center (Williamsburg Art & Historical Center) has also organized a team of volunteers “WAH CENTER ARTISTS RESCUE TEAM for JAPAN" for a “Two Day Art Benefit Event” on the weekend of June 11, 3 months after the tragic day of 3/11/11. We have decided to delay our events a bit later. Despite the fact that people’s memory span is short and the impact of the devastation might become less in people’s minds, the Japanese need for help doesn’t end as fast as people’s memory. We believe that sustaining our continuous effort and keeping the momentum are very important. Therefore, we hope to have our art benefit events not only once but others in the future.

The Two Day Fundraising Event includes an Art Benefit Exhibition, Performances (Dance & Music) and Fashion Show. During the events Delicious International Appetizers and Drinks will be served.

100 % of the proceeds will go to the Japan Society's "Japan Earthquake Relief Fund”

Artworks for Sale include painting, watercolor, drawing, print, photography, mixed media, sculpture, ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, Size is up to 24” and Price under $200. Become an art collector!
Ticket for Dance & Music performances is $15. A not to miss one of it’s kind performance event!
You can make a donation: Payable to Japan Society, indicating “Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.”

Many thanks,
Yuko Nii, Founder & Artistic Director
and other members of WAH CENTER ARTISTS RESCUE TEAM for JAPAN:

Peter Arvo, Michael Bales, Orin Buck, Peter Dizozza, Akiko Furukawa, Giacomo Ginammi, Mayumi Hayashi, Yuka Imata, Farnaz K. Damon Kelmartin, Rachel Kurlander, Terrance Lindall, Riza Manalo, Sanae Maeda, Yumiko Nolan, Carol Quint, Kate Scherer, Jun Shoji, Albert J Tissian, Mary Westring

Images

Beryl Brenner

Diana Becerra

K. Saito

Tomoko Fujiki

Elisa Chalem

Sonomi Kobayashi

Takeshi Kawashima

Irmari Nacht

Halona Hilbertz

Aya Kakeda

Sheryl Humphrey

Jennifer Primorsh

イベント日程
６月１０日（金）	5 pm	開館
	6 - 8pm	ファッション・ショー
	6 - 10pm	ベネフィット・アート・ショー
	8 - 11pm	ダンス＆ミュージックパフォーマンス
６月１１日（土）	5 pm	開館
	6 - 10pm	ベネフィット・アート・ショー（新作品含む）
	8-11pm	ダンス＆ミュージックパフォーマンス

2011年3月11日、マグニチュード（Ｍ）９・０の大地震が日本の東北地方海岸沿いを中心に襲いました。
続いて大規模の津波が起こり、広大な範囲にわたり高さ約１５m、速度約８m／秒を記録しました。８m／秒というのはオリンピックのアスリートが走る速度です。４月２２日の時点での報告によると、３２万６千もの建物や道路がダメージを受け、また破壊されました。死亡者数は１万４千人、行方不明者数は１万２千人以上にのぼり、未だに１３万１千人もの被災者が、環境の整わない避難所で生活しています。日本政府による被総額の見積りは、農地と、あの悲惨な福島原発の被害を除いただけでも約２６兆円にのぼります。現在、被災者に実際に援助が届くのにとても時間がかかっている状態です。海外では、日本は豊かな国で経済的な< 援助は必要ないと思われがちですが、今回の災害の被害は甚大なもので、復興に数年はかかると言われいます日本はいま、継続的な援助を必要としています。

災害のニュースが届くと同時に、NY市内でたくさんのベネフィット・イベントが行われ、次々とイベントの成功が報告されています。それは人々の根本的な精神の美しさそのものを表し、これを見る事によって、人間の良心に対する私の信念はより確かなものになりました。

この度、WAHCenter(ウイリアムスバーグ・アート・アンド・ヒストリカル・センター）も、ボランティア・チームの “WAH CENTER ARTISTS RESCUE TEAM for JAPAN” を編成し、災害から丁度３ヶ月目にあたる６月１１日の週末に２日間のアート・ベネフィット・イベントを企画しました。時が経つにつれ人々の災害への記憶も薄れがちになりますが、私たちはだからこそ、継続的な支援が重要だと考え、WAH Center では今後も多くの復興支援のイベントを予定しています。

今回の２日間の復興支援イベントは、ベネフィット・アート・ショー、パフォーマンス（ダンス＆ミュージック）・ファッションショーで構成され、国際色豊かなフード、ドリンクが用意されます。収益の１００％は、ジャパンソサエティーの "Japan Earthquake Relief Fund” を通して震災復興支援活動に寄付されます。

* Become an art collector!　
作品は全て＄２００以下で販売されます。（油絵、アクリル画、水彩画、ドローイング、写真、版画、ミクスト・メディア、彫刻、陶器、グラスワーク、ジュエリー等）作品は２４インチ以下のサイズです。

* A not to miss one of it’s kind performance event!　
ダンス＆ミュージック・パフォーマンスのチケットは＄１５です。

*寄付をご希望の方は、宛先をJapan Societyにし、メモ欄に“Japan Earthquake Relief Fund” と表記したチェックをWAH Center まで郵送して下さい。