AVALON – The planned Ocean Galleries fundraiser for the Southern Shore Chapter of American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services has been moved to Saturday, September 28, 2013 (previously schedule for Friday, September 13). The fundraiser reception will take place from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM at the Avalon location of Ocean Galleries (22nd & Ocean Drive), with special guest Mayor Martin Pagliughi. In addition to a radio-thon hosted by Chris Nagle of Avalon’s WIBBAGE 94.3 FM, the highlight of the fundraiser will be the auctioning of a Hurricane Sandy tribute painting by the 11-year-old child prodigy, Autumn de Forest.
“We are delighted to partner with Ocean Galleries on this event and have been overwhelmed with the interest already,” said Carol Cohen, the Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Shore Chapter. “By postponing the event until later in the month, we will be better able to accommodate the many people who have expressed interest in the coveted painting by this amazing young artist.”
In 2012, Ocean Galleries hosted the young and extraordinarily talented Autumn de Forest (www.autumndeforest.com) for her first ever solo art exhibition. Autumn fell in love with the seaside area of Stone Harbor, Avalon, and the New Jersey shore. Just a few months after her visit, Hurricane Sandy hit, leaving behind a path of destruction. Learning of the devastation to the area, Autumn immediately wanted to do something to help. The innovative youngster went to work and painted a commemorative painting, “Sandy Flag,” with the intention that 100% of the artwork’s proceeds would benefit those who suffered from the storm’s wrath and would be used to help rebuild the community.
In conjunction with her exhibition at Ocean Galleries this summer, Autumn unveiled a giant, 8’ x 30’ replica of the commemorative artwork at Morey’s Piers & Beachfront Waterparks in Wildwood, NJ in the new artBOX, a first-of-its-kind boardwalk artist colony made from repurposed shipping containers. Autumn explained the message behind the “Sandy Flag” artwork as representing the states of New Jersey and New York coming together to overcome the storm. The encaustic painting on panel measures six feet wide by four feet high.
The fundraiser at Ocean Galleries will highlight other pieces of Autumn de Forest’s work during the reception, which begins at 5:30 PM, followed by the live auction of “Sandy Flag” taking place at 7:00 PM. Anyone who is not able to attend the reception but is interested in bidding on the painting can stop by the gallery or phone 609.967.4462 to place a bid. For more information on the painting and the auction, contact Ocean Galleries (609.967.4462/PR@oceangalleries.com) or visit www.OceanGalleries.com
A native of Avalon, NJ, gallery owner Kim Miller explains how the Red Cross was chosen to receive the funds raised from the Autumn de Forest painting. “Our galleries in Avalon and Stone Harbor, as well as our home suffered damage from the storm. It was a horrific experience, yet we consider ourselves lucky as so many others had even greater losses. We heard from so many of our friends and clients how the Southern Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross helped them. This was just our small way of giving back to this important organization that was there for Sandy victims and has supported our area time and time again in the wake of storms and other disasters.”
The Disaster Relief Services fun of the American Red Cross was established to help in any disaster situation, so while Sandy victims may benefit from the monies raised, the fund will also be there to help others in our area when disaster inevitably strikes again.
The American Red Cross fundraiser reception will take place from 5:30 PM until 8:00 PM on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Avalon location of Ocean Galleries (22nd & Ocean Drive). All proceeds from the radio-thon and auction of the Autumn de Forest painting will benefit Disaster Relief Services.
The Southern Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross has locations in Pleasantville and Cape May Court House. For more information, call 609-646-8330 or visit http://www.redcross.org/nj/pleasantville.
For more information on Ocean Galleries, call 609-967-4462 or visit http://www.OceanGalleries.com. For more information on Autumn de Forest, visit http://www.AutumndeForest.com.
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