The Field Gallery
Artists Respond to War
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Support
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Artists Respond to War
Cindy Kane turned what she describes as the "global malaise" in Iraq into a positive collaborative project for the artists' community on Martha's Vineyard. Giving 46 artists a square piece of slate, Kane asked each artist to use his or her tile to respond to the war and the world's current political climate. The result was a stunning exhibit of tiles displayed in a quilt-like installation at the Field Gallery on Martha's Vineyard. "I think artistic complacency is a danger that we as artists always face," Kane admits. "The quilt is an example of what can happen when you shake things up a bit."
Almost half the tiles were sold for $500 a piece, and proceeds totaling $9,500 were donated to Oxfam America's relief work in Iraq. The event drew one of the largest crowds anyone could remember for a gallery opening, and proved to be a rewarding and emotional experience for both the artists and visitors to the gallery.
Was Oxfam in your backyard? Send your story to info@oxfamamerica.org, or call 617-728-2464.