What is ARTvision?
ARTvision Atlanta is an online celebration of the arts, representing offerings from emerging and established artists that create new funding and resources for our beneficiary, Positive Impact. PI provides critical, culturally competent, mental-health and prevention services in metro Atlanta for those living with HIV - and will benefit greatly from your participation. (read more)
ARTvision inspiration
Launched in 2006, ARTvision was conceived by Will Pollock to honor his aunt, Betsy Weedon, who was a philanthropic leader in San Francisco's Bay Area for more than 40 years. Betsy lost a fight with cancer in April 2006. According to Betsy’s sister and ARTvision Artist, Mary Pollock, Betsy had encylopedic literature knowledge and often showed her deep respect for her friends in her actions.
“She loved the simple things,” she says. “She really loved her friends devotedly, and if they were interested in something special, she was always there sending them information and bestowing relevant material upon them. She loved poetry and wrote beautiful poems herself. In fact when she died, friends from her school contacted me to ask if I knew where some of her poems were, so that they could be printed in the alumni journal. Somewhere she found a great photograph of Spender, Isherwood and Auden, all smiles together, as young men; it is a very arresting, appealing picture, and she kept it on top of one of her bookcases.”
From Betsy’s San Francisco Chronicle obituary: “Betsy was a remarkably intelligent individual who had a broad scope of knowledge, always able to expound on subjects ranging from English and Irish literature classics to mystery stories, esoteric texts, art, gardening and children's books. She possessed that rare quality of being able to listen intently to the people around her, thus helping them create a greater sense of themselves.” (read more)
ARTvision exists so that both the artists involved and those who Positive Impact serves, Atlanta’s population affected by HIV, can gain a greater sense of life purpose and mission. Hence the tagline, “artists reaching through.”
Five years of ARTvision
In its inaugural year, ARTvision raised nearly $1,500 for the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission, a group working hard to defend the rights of marginalized gay men and women in developing countries and within oppressive cultures. We'd like to acknowledge Paula Ettelbrick, the group's former Executive Director, for her hard work and for championing ARTvision's inaugural year.
The year following, we raised nearly $3,000 for AIDS Survival Project. In addition to expanding our available purchases to music, Citabria Phillips, Betsy's niece, offered two of her paintings for sale - one of which ("Skirt," pictured here) sold to Barb Shadomy, owner of Stonehurst Place. Citabria's piece now hangs in "The Shag"'s Hinman Suite.
By 2009, we have in each successive year increased our charitable donations. Now five years running in 2010, ARTvision is in its third consecutive year of raising funds for Atlanta’s own Positive Impact. In sum, we have earned nearly $15,000 in total donations. Please help us increase that number dramatically in 2010.
For every $100 raised, Positive Impact is able to provide 3 hours of mental-health counseling to those affected by HIV.
Preview sales begin the last week of November 2010, and will officially commence on Dec. 1, 2010, World AIDS Day. Follow this Web site and our account on Twitter for new artists signings and sneak peaks at this year’s art! Sales will continue throughout the month of December, with a special in-person buyer opportunity on New Year’s Eve! Lock in those last-minute donations... and take home a beautiful piece of artwork.
How ARTvision stands apart
ARTvision is unique because all artists present their pieces for your consideration as unfettered donations - in other words, without claim of deduction or compensation - so that buyers' direct, tax-deductible donations to Positive Impact can constitute purchases. (See our FAQs)
ARTvision culminates each year Will’s annual New Year’s Eve ARTvision & Gourmet Pizza Extravaganza, now in its ninth year. All pieces, sold and unsold, will be on display at this annual gathering. (This year we will once again hold an invitation-only Buyer Preview for folks who want to lock in those last-minute donations.) The viewing is great for folks on the fence about a purchase who might be tempted with a closer look.
We are also gearing up for “ARTvision Live!” - an evening of music and comedy, performed by some of the nation’s top acts. Details on that to follow, but mark your calendars for July 2011 and we’ll fill you in later as to whom you should expect to see.
Ongoing thanks to...
Craig Eister, an ARTvision 2006 buyer of "Miles Away," who has helped champion the event from its inception and worked so expertly with AIDS Survival Project during its evolution.
All of our sponsors - past, present and future - for helping give buyers that added incentive.To the local-Atlanta media for helping us get the world out and make ARTvision an established charity vehicle in the city, including the GA Voice, Project Q Atlanta and many others.
To Michael Baker, Michele Segre, Sean Mansfield, Jim Detmer, Rob O’Connor, Rachel “Rocky” Modena,” team Positive Impact and all of our other support folks - you make this event the best it can be - and all it will become in the future.
Most of all, to our artists and buyers who breathe life into this event and bring great attention to and for Positive Impact - we love you!
Artist queries or purchase questions to Will Pollock; please send all media inquiries to Michael Baker of Positive Impact.
Once again, THANK YOU to everyone for making ARTvision so successful.
:)
“artists reaching through”