How can a "starving artist" help Hurricane Katrina relief efforts
With limited resources and trying to think of something significant I could do to extend aid to victims of Katrina, I've thought of one hare-brained idea. I'm confident that, if it has major weaknesses you all will help me identify them. But, if it's a halfway decent idea, you might also help me figure out how I, and possibly you on your own, could make it work.
My wife and I have donated a tiny amount of cash and are considering the possibility of taking a couple or small family into our home (we live in Dallas), but my thoughts then go to what broader help I am particularly qualified to offer.
I expect that many of the evacuees probably feel isolated, discouraged and possibly even hopeless, and that these feelings may continue or magnify even after they've been fed and sheltered. Psychological aid – the realization that more people than they may know are concerned for their well-being (they're not sitting around watching CNN like so many of us), and the restoration of hope – might be the most significant thing that, as an artist, I could help bring about. So I am at this moment thinking of how I might do some mail art, as many pieces as possible in a short amount of time, to send them.
The first obstacle that comes to mind is whether anything would even get through to them. I doubt the Red Cross, Salvation Army, or any other relief organization that's sheltering and assisting these people would take the risk of handing to an evacuee an envelope sent by an anonymous individual.
But I have the feeling that a post card, which is also the simplest and cheapest canvas I could choose, would not be held up. And I also assume that cards sent to any of the many evacuation centers in several Texas cities – Houston's Astrodome or Dallas' Reunion Arena for instance – could find their way into SOMEONE'S hands even without a specific name in the address. Admittedly, this is all speculation, and I have yet to research it in any detail. That's my next step.
Your ideas, experiences and even criticisms would be welcomed. (message originally posted at Yahoo! Collage Art and Artists Group)
–– James Michael
4 Comments:
Hi James-
Great idea! The only thought I have is to put the word out among artists and have the post cards sent to you. You could then send them or take them to the Red Cross or other such charity for distribution. They could also be sent directly to the area shelter.
Bright Blessings-
Krishanna
Krishanna Spencer, The Altered Artist
Creating Art That Doesn't Match Your Sofa
Site: www.alteredartist.com
Blog: www.alteredartist.blogs.com
Community: www.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alteredartistsonline/
Interesting idea about the postcards. Did you ever follow through and see if this was feasible? I know a lot of fiber artists that would possibly participate.
One of the nice things about being a fiber artist is that we can make utilitarian art to help keep the evacuees warm in their new homes. Hundreds of quilts have been pouring into Houston and other gulf state towns. I'm making 3 bedsized quilts for the folks that have come to Denver - you can see the first 2 on my blog: blog.lisacall.com.
I didn't have cash to donate, so I gave what I have a lot of..art. I gave some of my fiber art to group that is going to sale them at the Quilt Festival show in Houston this fall. All the money will go to the Red Cross. It made me feel good that I was able to contribute something to the relief effort. :)
SuSan
Cash donations are a good idea but take care with that because those donations are not getting to the people who need it. I am an artist who has been dislocated by the hurricaines and because I was already poor and renting instead of owning a home I am unable to get assistance and it is getting very difficult to continue holding out for some hope of returning to life. I am currently staying in a bed in someone's office and I am trying to take art classes at the local university to try to maintain some sanity but I just need to get to a place I can call home and get on with life. I keep getting bogus offers of home and job then they go away and I am left still looking. It is very frustrating to see and hear about all the help people are offering but where is it all going? I can't even get help from fema cause I was a renter, so I am lost and alone still looking for home. I am sure I am not the only one in this situation, I am a 51 yr old woman not married and no kids but I don't count for whatever reason, and I just want to find a home, and a friendly face.
Des-+
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