Art Miami 2009 Sponsorship Inspires " Hope Is In the Art " by Charity Donations

Written by Vanessa Fioravante Wednesday, 02 September 2009 23:58

Miami, FL - To celebrate 20 years of showcasing some of the world’s most highly regarded modern and contemporary art, Art Miami 2009 is once again honoring its commitment to South Florida by helping sponsor Constance Collins Margulies’ Sundari Foundation, Inc., a Miami-based public charity dedicated to the education and social inclusion of homeless women and children, and its supporting foundation, the Lotus Endowment Fund.  Art Miami has presented the Foundation with a check for $10,000 in support of the Foundation’s Lotus House Women’s Shelter in Miami’s historic Overtown neighborhood. 

For the second consecutive year, the Fair will also be serving as a sponsor of the Foundation’s 5th Annual Fall Fundraiser: Hope Blossoms – An Art Happening, benefiting Lotus House.  The fundraiser, co-hosted by the Martin Z. Margulies Family Foundation, takes place October 16^th at the Margulies Warehouse and will be a ground-breaking event.  More than 30 internationally renowned performance artists who will join forces for the first time ever   in Miami to focus on real issues facing South Florida’s homeless population include: The Fantastic Nobodies, Rashaad Newsome, Shinique Smith, Miwa Koizumi, Ellen Fisher, Vlatka Horvat, The Miami Poetry Collective, Wet Heat Project, Trajal Harrell, Lee Walton, Gloria Leigh O’Connell, Max Gimblett and Matt Jones, David Ellis and Roberto Lange, Peggy Nolan and Harumi Abe, Jason Schmidt, and Allison Berkoy and a drumming circle, led by Ruben Millares and Richard Marquez.

The gala will also feature a silent auction with donated works from prominent South Florida artists and works created during the benefit by performance artists. To see performance artist bios or purchase tickets, go to www.lotushouseshelter.org .     

“We are grateful for Art Miami’s continued support and the support of the art world,” said Constance Collins Margulies.  “Art has a great capacity to help uplift those in need and through this sponsorship we are seeing it happen . . . Together, we are making a difference.”

Art Miami’s VIP Preview event, scheduled to take place December 1^st, the eve of the fair’s public grand opening, will put an added spotlight on the Foundation.  Donations at the door will benefit Lotus House and other Sundari Foundation initiatives.   

“Once again, art and community will join together to help support the fundraising goals and objectives of the Lotus House Woman’s Shelter,” added Nick Korniloff, Show Director for Art Miami.  “It’s an honor to be able to give back to our community through our partnership with the shelter. Constance and her team are doing amazing work which has and will continue to enhance the lives of many while building a stronger community for all of us in South Florida.”

About Art Miami

Art Miami is the city’s longest running contemporary art fair and considered one of the most important venues for modern and contemporary art in the U.S.  It is scheduled to take place December 2-6^th in the Midtown Miami Arts District, adjacent to the Miami Design District and Wynwood Arts District, and will feature works from more than 80 leading national and international contemporary art galleries.  For additional information, visit www.art-miami.com