People who want to protect American lives by means of a war on terror aren’t usually the same people who want to protect Americans with health insurance, education, decent jobs, pollution controls, bank regulation, safety nets and social justice.
Seattle painter Ken Kelly needed emergency brain surgery, which he was lucky enough to obtain. Now he has the bill, which is large. He is uninsured.
Were he a European, his friends could limit their involvement to a card, an email, a texted well-wish, a hug or a flower or two. Because he’s an American, they need to do more. In an event that is surely repeated for other artists many times around the country, Kelly’s friends are organizing a fund-raising art auction for him on Jan. 23, 7 p.m. at Lemon Lime Studio, 411 Yale Ave. N., two blocks north of REI.
(1/7 Update from Kelly: “As you can see, the brain surgery caused complications…”)
We
are seeking donations of artwork for the event. If you are interested
in participating you can choose from the following three opportunities:
1.
Works valued between $50.00 – $200.00 dollars which will be available
for pre-event sale through the website. (Please note the website is
currently in progress and will be completed with the next few days).
Works purchased through the website must be at the event for pick up by the lucky person who bought your fabulous work.
Works
that remain available as of the event will be included in the silent
auction at the benefit party. The minimum bid will be the same as the
sale price on the website.
2. Donations of artwork available in the silent auction at the event only. These pieces will all start at a minimum bid of $100.00. (This will encourage very lively bidding wars!)
3.
If you would like to donate more expensive artwork, you will determine
the minimum bid. We also ask that you provide a full purchase price in
the event a patron wants to forego the auction process choosing instead
to buy the work outright.
What we will need from you:
A
jpg image of the piece(s) along with title, dimensions, media, and
price depending on the above option(s) you select (if the work is other
than on canvas please state if it is framed or unframed).Email these to:
Deadlines:
The last day images will be posted on the web site will be January 17th.
Artworks must be delivered to Lemon Lime Studio Friday January 22 between noon and 6:00 pm
If you have questions please contact:
Alfred Harris – 206-679-1988Shawn Ferris – 206 214-7239
The committee for Ken Kelly’s well being thanks you enormously for helping with this cause.Yours very truly,
Parris BroderickLisa BuchananShawn FerrisAlfred Harris
P.S.
We are also putting out a call for volunteers for the event. If you or
someone you know is interested we need volunteers to tend no host bar,
cashier, wrap sold artworks, and door greeters.
It is tragic that we as a great nation can’t figure out a solution to the uninsured situation. Other countries have already done it and it seems the same”pride” that got us to the top will ironically bring us to our knees if we don’t embrace change. Until then, we have to take advantage of existing programs. There are at least two of them which I feel everyone needs to know about. One is the “Patient Assistance Program” and two are free discount prescription cards that exist. I know of a site (www.medpap.ws)which goes over both .I hope this helps until we as a people truly realize we are only as strong as our weakest link.