Photo courtesy Art 180
It started with scarves. A decade ago, Art 180 volunteer Kim Smith organized a sale of 180 handmade scarves to celebrate the nonprofit group's fifth anniversary. The next year, Art Karma became an annual event. Founding director Marlene Paul explains the concept behind the name as representing "the cycle of goodness that happens when artists and others donate auction items, which are sold, and the money goes back into our programs for young people in the community."
Art Karma has grown, but the mash-up of Eastern and Middle Eastern themes remains woven into the event's style. The tradition continues Dec. 5 from 7 to 10 p.m., with music by WRIR's DJ Graybeard, fusion delectables including local craft brews and wines, psychic readers, a children's art project and interactive experiences.
The fundraiser returns to the century-old former electric streetcar railway power and maintenance shop, now the office of Dovetail Construction Co., at 1620 Brook Road. "It's modern and cool and easy to get to and has a view of the city skyline, and we trick it out with a big tent," Paul says.
Featured auction items include two-sided miniature reproductions of the 31 self-portraits that were part of the "What Do You Stand For?" outdoor exhibition and guitar-case lids painted by local artist-musicians for this fall's 15th anniversary show, "GuitART!" Admission is $40 at the door, $35 in advance (children free) and there's a pre-event VIP champagne preview from 6 to 7 p.m. 233-4180 or art180.org —HK
