Matthews-Mint Hill - Carolina Weekly Newspapers

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTA guide to events, organizations and people in the communityMint Hill art nonprofit raising money for American Cancer Societyby Erica Oglesbyarts@matthewsminthillweekly.comProject Art Aid is going pink!Partnering with the American CancerSociety, the Mint Hill-based nonprofit issponsoring an art exhibition of original artworkfrom local artists at the Project Art AidGoes Pink Exhibition June 17. Featuring270 pieces of artwork to be auctioned off,all proceeds from the event will go directlyto the American Cancer Society’s MakingStrides Against Breast Cancer.“The funds raised will be added tothose raised through the Charlotte MakingStrides Against Breast Cancer event,Dr. Laura YoungOptometrist5 miles from I-77 and I-81Gently sloping lots, 2 acre lots and creek side lotsLong range views, lush landscapingGated Entrance with private roadsProtective covenants with $500 annual HOA duesClose to the Blue Ridge Parkway and New RiverPage 18 • June 10-16, 2011 • Matthews-Mint Hill Weeklywhich will take place October 29 at (the)NASCAR Hall of Fame,” Kari Dahlstrom,regional director of marketing and communicationsfor the society, said.Project Art Aid began in January 2010after the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquakein Haiti. Mint Hill resident and artistRosalia Torres-Weiner and her husband,Ben, were troubled by the wide-spread devastationand began brainstorming of a waylocal artists could use their talents to helpthose suffering in Haiti.But before they could even formulate aplan, another major earthquake hit Chili.With so many people in need, the Weinersquickly assembled a core team of eightBeat theSummer RushAsk us aboutSpecial pricing on ourChildren’s Lens & Frame PackageAvailable the month of June(including Sports Goggles!)704-821-EYES (3937)6044 Hwy 74 West Indian Trail, NC 28079www.premierfamilyeye.comOpen House SpecialsSAtuRdAyJune 18thPlease RSVPat 877.787.6257to attendPhotos courtesy of Project Art AidArtwork by local artists (above) will be for sale June 17 as part of Project Art Aid’s fundraiser forthe American Cancer Society. Project Art Aid is based in Mint Hill.other artists and before long Project Art Aidwas born.“We have the talent, so why not do somethinggood with that,” Rosalie said.With artists already struggling to selltheir pieces due to the struggling Americaneconomy, it didn’t take the Weiners longto find many local artists willing to donatetheir time and artwork for a good cause.“Art was just not something people werespending extra money on,” Ben said.Soon their modest upstart began toexplode into long-lasting success. Hostingfive different art shows in and aroundCharlotte in 2010, Project Art Aid raisedupwards of $3,000 for the American RedCross.“We were really just eight people meetingon Thursdays trying to figure out what todo,” Ben said of the group’s humble start.But based on the project’s initial success,Ben and Rosalie knew they were onto something, and plans for Project Art Aidbegan taking shape.Project Art Aid Goes Pink has been inthe works since October 2010.“We wanted to go a lot bigger than wedid with the Red Cross,” Ben said. “WeEnjoy weekend getaways only two hoursfrom Charlotte and experience allthe wonderful mountain amenities!Prices start at $ 19,900were going to go 10 times bigger.”With a goal of getting 100 artists to contributeto the show and to raise $30,000,Ben and Rosalie were pleasantly surprisedto see that they quickly had more than 150local artists submit their work for the show,20 of them coming from the nonprofitMint Hill Arts, which has a gallery in MintHill.Partnering with the cancer society wassimple: The society would provide each participatingartists with a 12x12 canvas, andProject Art Aid would supply the talent.Giving each artist a strict color palate, allpieces had to be done in shades of pink.“For an artist to work with a limited colorpalate is a challenge,” Rosalie said.To maintain equality for all the artistsparticipating, all pieces will begin biddingat $50, and the names of all artists willremain anonymous until after the artworkhas been purchased.The event will also feature the unveilingof a mosaic mural in the shape of a heart,made up of 100 6x6 canvases from 100different artists. Working with the McCollCenter for Visual Art and Affiliate Artist,(see Aid on page 20)5%Discountwith this adDeveloper pays allclosing costs and HOAdues for first yearwww.newriveroaks.com • 1.877.RVR.OAKS (877.787.6257) • www.hillsvillevsreslestate.com 276.728.4808www.matthewsminthillweekly.com