Art department draws up grassroots fund-raiser
By Allison Ashmore
June 1, 2005 9:00 p.m.
Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, but to the UCLA
art department, it’s worth more than that.
With a pool of drawings and eager art supporters, the luck will
literally be in the draw and the drawing.
The UCLA Department of Art will present the first “Luck of
the Draw(ing),” which celebrates the exceptionality of the
visual arts department, UCLArts alumni and the arts community. The
event will be held at Parking Lot 36 at the Kinross building from
4-7 p.m. on Sunday.
Beginning in 2003, California reduced funding for higher
education disproportionately to overall state funding cuts. Few
would argue that higher education can or should be exempted from
reductions required by state financial problems, but
disproportionately large cuts in state higher education
appropriations were the principal cause of the rolling back of
higher education opportunity and performance.
The main inspiration for “Luck of the Draw(ing)” was
the recent budget cuts, which have escalated dramatically, and the
art department has recently been feeling the effects. In order to
fully reach its potential, the art department had to produce extra
money. As a result, tickets for the event are $75 each.
UCLA art Professor Cathy Opie initiated this fund-raising
aspect, and is co-chairing the undertaking along with art
department chairwoman Barbara Drucker.
“The department has never had to fund raise in the past,
so we decided to begin with this grassroots event,” Drucker
said.
The goal of the affair, which is expected to be held annually,
is fund-raising for the art department. The money raised will
provide a fund to educate, inspire and sustain the next generation
of emerging artists; organizers hope to raise about $30,000.
“With this money, we hope to pay off debts,” Drucker
said, laughing. “Actually, the money will go to the
scholarship and curricular support programs.”
The art department guides students in exploring studio practice
by emphasizing autonomy, experimentation, communal discourse and
artistic responsibility.
“This event acknowledges the students and the faculty, and
the quality of the work that goes on here,” Drucker said.
“Luck of the Draw(ing)” is an original and fresh
melding of fund-raiser, art auction and art fair. With the purchase
of a ticket, patrons get the chance to acquire a piece of art by an
established art-world figure, as well as obtaining work by the next
generation of talent.
About 30 artists have come together to donate about 180 pieces
for the raffle, or “drawing.”
Among the artists who have donated their work are UCLA faculty
members, UCLA art department alumni including Amy Adler, Karl
Haendel and Paul Sietsema, friends of the department and current
graduate and undergraduate students.
Along with possibly building a significant art collection for a
relatively modest investment, attendees will also enjoy food and
music in an unpretentious, urban atmosphere.
The refreshments include Pink’s famous hot dogs,
Chabalita’s tacos, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, soft
drinks and a full bar, while Los Super Elegantes will perform live
music.
“Because this is our inaugural fund-raiser, we wanted to
make the tickets less expensive and the event more
inclusive,” Drucker said. “It’s a party,
it’s a fund-raiser, it basically tells the community how
fabulous we are and shows them that we also need
support.”
The event also provides an opportunity for the public to meet
promising young artists and a renowned art faculty of international
reputation.
“The patrons of the arts will be mixing with the artists
and the students,” Drucker said.
With the logistics aside, the event promises to be entertaining,
welcoming and rewarding, hopefully in more ways than one.
“The atmosphere will be a funky, fun, grassroots,
informal, positive event,” said Drucker.
“Support the art department, support the arts, and maybe
go home with a really great piece of artwork for $75 that you
can’t get out in the real world.”
