Hope Blossoms: Lotus House Benefit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Suzanne Schmidt
Caroline Underwood
Kreps/DeMaria
305.663.3543
Curated by Kimberly Marrero
sschmidt@krepspr.com
cunderwood@krepspr.com
PERFORMANCE ARTISTS PUT HOMELESS WOMEN CENTER STAGE FOR EVENING OF HOPE AND DISCOVERY
Miami’s First Ever “Art Happening” to Benefit Lotus House Women’s Shelter
MIAMI (Aug. _, 2009) – “What is a Happening? A game, an adventure, a number of activities engaged in by participants for the sake of playing.” ~ Allan Kaprow, American painter
Drumming, dancing, tasting and painting to blossom hope and make a difference in the community. Internationally renowned performance artists will join forces for the first time ever in Miami this fall to put a spotlight on real issues facing South Florida’s homeless women at the Fifth Annual Hope Blossoms - An Art Happening Fundraiser, benefiting the Lotus House Women’s Shelter in downtown Miami. The event takes place October 16, 8-11 p.m., at the Margulies Warehouse (591 NW 27th Street, Miami).
For the fundraiser, Constance Collins Margulies, president of the Sundari Foundation, Inc., which operates Lotus House (www.lotushouseshelter.org), has taken a cue from the repertoire of American artist Allan Kaprow -- a groundbreaker in establishing concepts of performance art. He first used the term art “happening” in the 1950’s to describe the immediacy of live art performances and the unfolding narrative of the creative work of artists and participants on the cutting edge of artistic movements of his time.
“This is an artistic adventure, the likes of which Miami has never seen,” said Collins Margulies. “Artists representing every form of artistic medium -- painting, sculpture, photography, video, light, words, food, sound, dance, conceptual and, of course, performance -- are coming together from across the country for Lotus House and we are so grateful for their support. It is an event of historic proportions that will engage the audience in the creative process and unleash imagination as we create spontaneous works of art that symbolize our shared hopes and dreams for women and children in need.”
Hosted by the Martin Z. Margulies Family Foundation and The Sundari Foundation, Inc., a non-profit public charity, dedicated to promoting the education, advancement and social inclusion of poor, disadvantaged and homeless women and children, this year’s event will combine the talents of conceptual and performance artists, engaging participants to create “live works of art” through movement, music and material.
More than 30 contemporary performance artists will be in attendance, including The Fantastic Nobodies, Rashaad Newsome, Shinique Smith, Miwa Koizumi, Ellen Fisher, Vlatka Horvat, The Miami Poetry Collective, Trajal Harrell, Lee Walton, Gloria Leigh O’Connell, Max Gimblett and Matt Jones, David Ellis and Roberto Lange, Peggy Nolan and Harumi Abe, Jason Schmidt, and Allison Berkoy and a drumming circle, led by Ruben Millares and Richard Marquez.
“The New York Times and several major art publications have recently highlighted ‘happenings’ as the newest revitalized movements of Kaprow’s earlier works,” added Martin Margulies, art collector and fundraiser co-host. “The process is spontaneous and one through which all those present become participants. These performance artists are going to connect with people to create something truly remarkable -- all in the name of hope.”
A focused silent auction of the highest quality, benefiting Lotus House, will feature works of art created “live” that evening by performance artists as well as art works from artists in South Florida. Chef’s tastings will also be served gallery-style, courtesy of generous local restaurants.
Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling 305.365.2478 or online at www.lotushouseshelter.org. Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. Current sponsors include the B. Carlin Foundation, Inc.; Art Miami; John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; Evelyn and Bruce Greer; Pat and Larry Stewart; Julie and Chris Petricone; Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod; Vincent Damian; Diane Walder, M.D. and Angela W. Whitman.