United Family Services Launches “2008 Art With Heart Auction” With Gala Reception and 16-Day Public Preview At Morrison
Charlotte, NC, January 9, 2008 – United Family Services, creator of the annual “Art With Heart Auction” to benefit its anti-domestic violence programs and services, will launch this year’s auction with a 16-day public preview of artwork donated to the Auction along with a gala invitation-only art reception in two new $1+ million luxury condominiums at Morrison.
Artwork from well-known regional and national artists, as well as pieces by emerging local talents, will be on display throughout Morrison from January 9-25. Morrison is a new-urban neighborhood of shops, restaurants, and luxury urban residences at the corner of Sharon and Colony Roads in South Park.
In addition to a sneak peek at work by the Auction’s best-known artists, the January 9th reception will also include a private sale of work represented by Center of the Earth Gallery – with a percentage of all proceeds donated to United Family Services.
The formal Art With Heart auction will be held February 2, 2008 at CenterStage@NoDa.
The public art installation and private reception on Wednesday, January 9 will mark the formal launch of the “Morrison Arts Initiative”, a move on the part of Morrison’s developers – Grubb Properties and Casto Lifestyle Partners – and its merchants to showcase the depth and breadth of artistic expression in Charlotte within everchanging and accessible public venues. The Initiative will feature a range of display art including painting, pottery, glassware, sculpture, weaving, woodworking, furniture and fashion as well as performance arts like musical concerts, dance, poetry readings, film and street theater. New installations – in the restaurants, shops, offices, storefronts, and even outdoor spaces at Morrison – will launch monthly on a “2nd Wednesday” schedule.
“We are grateful to Grubb Properties and Morrison for partnering with us on this exciting event,” Liza Smith, Art With Heart chairperson, said. “Last year was a record-breaking year for Art With Heart, and I believe the opportunity to showcase the work donated by so many our region’s most talented artists in advance will help us top even last year’s record for funds raised to support United Family Services’ domestic violence programs.”
About The Morrison Arts Initiative
The Morrison Arts Initiative (MAI) is committed to enhancing the quality of life, at Morrison and in Charlotte, by building bridges between the area's creative community and those who are inspired by their passion and their work. For more information, visit www.morrison-arts.org.
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About Morrison
The retail/residential neighborhood of Morrison, one block from Southpark Mall at the corner of Sharon and Colony Roads, is a new-urban neighborhood of upscale merchants and luxury urban residences in the heart of suburban Charlotte. Visitors can shop at Charlotte’s newest Earth Fare gourmet grocery; dine at Arooji’s Ristorante, Yama Asian Fusion, and the upcoming Firebirds Wood-Fired Grill; and indulge themselves in open and on-the-way merchants like Capitol, Varji & Varji Salon and Spa, Barnes & Noble, Stickley Furniture, Winestore, Drapery Ever After, Hotham, B.D. Jeffries, E Martini, and more. For more information, visit www.liveatmorrison.com.
About Center of the Earth Gallery
Center of the Earth Gallery, a cutting edge contemporary art gallery located in Charlotte’s NoDa district, represents over 60 artists. From strong emerging to well established, their artists are widely collected and present a broad spectrum of the regional and national fine art world. Their extensive list of corporate clientele includes Neiman Marcus, Bank of America, The Federal Reserve Bank, Hearst Corporation, and Philip Morris USA. Owners Ruth Ava Lyons and Paul Sires each have over 30 years of experience in the fine arts and are practicing professional artists as well as dealers. For more information, visit www.centeroftheearth.com.
About Art With Heart
Started in 2000, Art With Heart is an annual auction which has raised over $350,000 since its inception when a group of local women decided to combine their extensive resources to plan a fun and educational benefit to help United Family Services launch programs for victims of domestic violence. This year’s event is Feb. 2 at CenterStage@NoDa. For more information, visit www.artwithheartauction.com.
About United Family Services
United Family Services, a nonprofit United Way member, is a multi-faceted family service agency offering budgeting, debt repayment, employee assistance, counseling, marital and family therapy, life-skills education, domestic violence programs and services to survivors of crime. Art With Heart benefits the agency’s domestic violence programs including The Shelter for Battered Women and Victim Assistance Court Services. These programs provide safety planning and shelter, counseling and support groups, children’s services, substance abuse services, court and legal advocacy, services for incarcerated women, on-site emergency room response to patients, training to medical professionals and dating violence prevention education. For more information, visit www.unitedfamilyservices.org
Posted: January 14, 2008 - Press Release | More News
