ATTENTION!! Anyone want to help DU friends wiped out by Katrina?

I am wondering if you would be interested in a DU fundraiser
for our friends who have been wiped out by Katrina. We know
there are many DUers who need help. I am trying to get a complete
list of those with need. Please PM me with names of any one you know.

Skinner has okayed the plan and has offered to help collect the money.

Here's what I suggest we try: An auction of DUers
handmade Mardi Gras Masks.

We need VOLUNTEERS!!

You can help in two ways, either by helping organize and make masks or by bidding on the finished creations!

You can buy blank forms at most craft stores and eyemasks are
very inexpensive and easy to find at this time of year. You could even deface a Bush mask!

Sequin and sparkles...a dash of style...I can just
imagine what SOME DUers would come up with.

We would all be able to bid on the masks, and the winner would send the cash through DU to make sure those in need got it. The
seller would contact the buyer through PM and mail the item.

We'd all have fun and we'd end up helping our pals in need.

Anyone willing to take on such a project? PM me if you are interested in helping organize this event or if you would like to donate a mask.

We have a few weeks to organize and publicize. All ideas, advice and help appreciated!!

COME ON DUERS!! I KNOW we can do better than FEMA.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=3980238&mesg_id=3980238

For the time being, I am using this thread as a place to plan and further organize events as the artists group does not move at quite the same pace as the other forums.

Please artists, feel free to join in!!

:hi: More room here,lol

As a fiber artist, this is right up my alley-I'd be very happy to design a couple of masks-or more if needed!!! See photo, I've been working on small sculptures of "found items" to give you an idea of how I could go.
OR if anyone wants to comission a personalized mask, I can do that for the auction, too. Just let me know! Anything to feel like I'm DOING something to help......thanks

DU'ers :yourock:

To Artists participating in the DU "Mardi Gras Mask Project"

Welcome and thank you so much for pledging to participate.

I have worked out a timeline that will not interfere with events coming up Sept. 24 in DC.
At the same time, it takes advantage of the Halloween season as a time of memorials for the dead, while acknowledging the culturally significant NOLA tradition of "masking" Indian in funeral processions.

In NOLA, a funeral procession requires a spontaneous outpouring of emotion. Out of ashes, rises hope and desire. The masks we auction on DU will express our individual artistry, our shared politics, and our common humanity.

TIMELINE of EVENTS:
10/7: Finish mask and send pic:
In order to best present the masks, entrants MUST send a digital pic of the finished product (covering the face of its maker if possible) no later than midnight Friday, October 7 Eastern time. You can PM an url or email a pic as an attachment.

10/8-15: Bidding Period
These will be posted on an auction thread to collect bids from October 8 until October 15.
I am uncertain at this point whether the bidding should be open or "silent." If you have a suggestion, let me know.

10/15: The Cyber Auction Ends at midnight when Grovelbot bangs the gavel! We can all gather on the thread and try and generate excitement. After the auction, you will be responsible for contacting the winning bidder through PM and making arrangements to mail the item to the winner. You will have to pay for postage, and you should try to mail the item promptly so it will arrive before Halloween.

At this point, there are 5 DUers we have identified as having lost their homes to wind or water. PM me and I can give you more info. I think we should focus on them. I will submit their names to Skinner and he can check it out with them to make sure they don't mind if we collect donations on their behalf.

I think if we keep advertising this in the lounge and promoting it for the next few weeks, we will have plenty of bidders.

I will make a point of shamelessly promoting our project.

Thanks to all of you for agreeing to do this. It feels so good to do something however small.

I want to hug you all for your generosity.

the current bid.

We also need to allow people to make donations as well. Just in case they are outbid but still want to contribute...

So far, most seem to want to have a public auction. It would probably be less of a headache for Skinner that way too since only the final bids would count, and that person would have to paypal Skinner. That makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for your input. I haven't made a public flier for the event yet because I am trying to iron out these last few details.

Also, someone needs to contact all the individuals to see if they even want our help. I am waiting for a final list of folks in need.

arrange a Mask Making Party and email you some pictures, Would that be OK?

I am trying to make some new graphic posters to advertise our project.


Mardi Gras Mask Project

Aha! I think I've got it!

Should I see if they want to participate? Get some reality in the masks. Don't ya know.

It would certainly be very generous of other evacuees to participate in a fundraiser.

I am still trying to figure out how to run this so no one is left out.

I have 5 DUers whose names have been submitted to me. They have lost their homes. I have to find out if they want to participate in this project. I don't know if we are missing other DUers. Again, I have no idea how much we could raise for them. Maybe just enough for a small online gift certificate. It probably won't do much more than boost their morale.

We should also give a contribution to Camp Casey-Covington where the Vets For Peace are continuing to feed people in Covington, LA. They have distributed tons of food and water.

Amazing. Our project is only two days old and has started to take off! We have 24+ artists. Pretty impressive.

I wonder if they are evacuees or detainees. I will call out there and see if the Church Camp will allow me to pitch the idea, they usually love activities.

A Gallery of World Masks : Lots of PICS and LINKS
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3989293

Mardi Gras Mask Project
Hello mask makers. I wanted to send a reminder to those who are making masks that I need your pics by 10/7. Please send me a PM with an url of your pic/s. You should be able to host pics free at PHOTOBUCKET.COM. If you need help with hosting pics, PM me and I can help.

Please include a brief statement describing your mask. Give it a name and explain the artistic concept behind the artwork.

I will post your pics on 10/8.

Thanks for participating in this activity.

So far, we have identified two DUers who need our help: merh in Mississippi and SwampRat in NOLA.