COPIED FROM:
http://comics212.net/2011/04/20/7181/
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ARTISTS HELP JAPAN: TORONTO RAISES $20,000
Toronto comic artists and DJs band together for Japanese Quake & Tsunami
Relief
Artists Help Japan: Toronto is proud to announce that their 12 hour live
art/DJ event on April 17th was an extraordinary success, raising $20,000
towards Tsunami and Quake relief in Japan.
Spearheaded by a consortium of Toronto illustration studios, the Artists
Help Japan: Toronto event was the local iteration of a charity movement
begun by Dice Tsutsumi at Pixar. The Toronto edition featured live art and
DJ music, a silent auction and dozens of artists selling commissioned
drawings, which raised about $18,000 over the 12 hour event. Event
organizers UDON Entertainment have stepped in with an additional $2000
donation to help bring the final total to $20,000, with all proceeds being
donated to the Canadian Red Cross.
The organizers of the event would like to thank all of the talented artists,
illustrators, and DJs who donated their time and expertise, and the hundreds
of Torontonians that came out in support of this event. The organizers will
continue their various fundraising efforts over the weeks and months to
come, including a series of special auctions featuring artworks donated by
artists at the fundraiser! Look for details on these auctions in the next
week.
Some words of thanks from the organizers:
Erik Ko, founder of UDON Entertainment: "I have a lot of friends and
colleagues in Japan who were affected by this unfortunate event. I felt a
real need to try and lend a helping hand to the people there and I really
appreciate so many people supporting us! Thank you so much!"
Bobby Chiu, head of Imaginism studio: "People were incredibly generous with
their money that day. It was truly touching to see a city come together to
support the people of Japan."
Alvin Lee, comic artist on Street Fighter and Birds of Prey: "It was awe
inspiring to see the outpour of support and compassion from Toronto's Art
and Music scene. To give back to a country that has influenced so many of
today's artists, including myself - I felt like it was the least I could
do."
Krystle Tabujara, Library Services Coordinator for The Beguiling: "Having
recently travelled to the Pacific Rim with my partner, I felt an obligation
to be a part of such a great cause. It was an honour to be working alongside
some of Toronto's most talented artists."
Jim Zubkavich, writer/creator of Skullkickers from Image Comics: "All of us
involved with this event feel a deep connection to Japan and we're ecstatic
that so many people came out to show their support. To the artists,
musicians and donators - Thank you everyone!"
Christopher Butcher, manager of The Beguiling and Director of the Toronto
Comics Art Festival: "Japan has been an inspiring, near-mythical presence in
my life since I was very young, and their culture and traditions have had a
huge influence on my writing and career. Coming together with so many
like-minded people to give something back has been similarly inspiring, and
I'm humbled by the generosity of our volunteers, artists, DJs, and the
hundreds of attendees who came to the event. Thanks everyone and please, if
at all possible, don't stop giving."
The organizers would also like to thank the many volunteers and supporters
who helped make the event a success, including: all of the wonderful artists
and publishers who donated art and other items for our silent auction; Jeff
at Imaginism; Michael, Akiko, Magda, Marc, Andrew, and Shane who helped out
on the day-of; Peter Birkemoe and The Beguiling; Joe Saturnino and the
entire staff of Revival.
ABOUT:
Artists Help Japan is a charity movement initiated by Dice Tsutsumi, an art
director at Pixar Animation Studios, who was also behind 2008 Totoro Forest
Project to help preserve Sayama Forest in Japan and Sketchtravel Project, to
gather the force of communities of artists and creative minds around the
world. We believe artists have special roles to contribute to the society.
<http://artistshelpjapan.blogspot.com/>
http://artistshelpjapan.blogspot.com/
Artists Help Japan: Toronto was spearheaded by Imaginism Studios President
and illustrator Bobby Chiu, who was contacted by Dice Tsutsumi to run the
Toronto event. Working with Illustrator Alvin Lee, UDON Entertainment CEO
Erik Ko, writer/artist Jim Zubkavich, and Christopher Butcher of Toronto
comic book store The Beguiling and the Toronto Comic Arts Festival, the team
brought together Toronto's diverse and exciting artistic community to engage
the public in an unprecedented fundraising endeavour.
Participating artists at Artists Help Japan: Toronto included: Agnes
Garbowska, Alex Milne, Alvin Lee, Bobby Chiu, Brian McLachlan, Chip Zdarsky,
Dale Keown, Eric Kim, Eric Vedder, Francis Manapul, Jason Bradshaw, Jeff
Lemire, Jim Zub, Joe Ng, Julie Faulkner, Kagan Mcleod, Kalman Andrasofszky,
Kei Acedera, Ken Lashley, Marcio Takara, Marcus To, Michael Cho, Ramon
Perez, Ray Fawkes, Scott Hepburn, Stuart Immonen, Svetlana Chmakova, and a
number of other local artists who showed up on the day of the event to offer
their support and assistance!
Participating DJs at Artists Help Japan: Toronto included: Riviera
[Perfecto,Myth, Kinetika NYC], Felix & Gani [Milk. Audio], Lazy Ray
[Nighttrackin'], Gerrence [Nighttrakkin'], Alvaro G [Kings Of Late Night],
Roland Gonzales [Studio+], Carlovega [Studio+], Jason Ulrich [Lab.Our
Union],Shingo [Hot Sauce], Uncle Matty & Dutty Maus [The Beacs], and
Illscience.
All proceeds from Artists Help Japan: Toronto will be donated to the
Canadian Red Cross, specifically earmarked to aid in Japanese earthquake and
tsunami relief. <http://www.redcross.ca/> http://www.redcross.ca/
SPONSORS:
Revival Bar has been entertaining guests, visitors and fans as a premium
event space since 2002. Revival generously donated the use of their main
space for the Artists Help Japan: Toronto event, and donated $1 from the
cost of every drink towards fundraising efforts.
<http://www.revivalbar.com/> http://www.revivalbar.com/
The Beguiling Books and Art is Canada's premiere source for comics, comix,
and high-art funnybooks. Visit us online at <http://beguiling.com/>
http://beguiling.com.
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